Chapter 29 Medsurg

A client with pernicious anemia is receiving parenteral vitamin B12 therapy. Which client statement indicates effective teaching about this therapy?

"I will receive parenteral vitamin B12 therapy for the rest of my life."

When teaching a client with iron deficiency anemia about appropriate food choices, the nurse encourages the client to increase the dietary intake of which foods?

Beans, dried fruits, and leafy, green vegetables

A client is found to have a low hemoglobin and hematocrit when laboratory work was performed. What does the nurse understand the anemia may have resulted from? Select all that apply.

Blood loss Abnormal erythrocyte production Destruction of normally formed red blood cells

Which is a symptom of hemochromatosis?

Bronzing of the skin

A client is being treated for DIC and the nurse has prioritized the nursing diagnosis of Risk for Deficient Fluid Volume Related to Bleeding. How can the nurse best determine if goals of care relating to this diagnosis are being met?

Closely monitor intake and output

A client with sickle cell anemia has a

low hematocrit

A client admitted to the hospital with abdominal pain, anemia, and bloody stools reports feeling weak and dizzy. The client has rectal pressure and needs to urinate and move their bowels. The nurse should help them:

onto the bedpan

A client is treated for anemia. What is the nurse's best understanding about the correlation between anemia and the client's iron stores?

There is a strong correlation between iron stores and hemoglobin levels.

Which of the following is accurate regarding the use of corticosteroids for immune hemolytic anemia? Select all that apply.

They decrease the macrophages ability to clear the antibody-coated RBCs. If the hemoglobin returns to normal, the corticosteroid dose can be lowered.

A nurse is doing a physical examination of a child with sickle cell anemia. When the child asks why the nurse auscultates the lungs and heart, what would be best the response by the nurse?

To detect the abnormal sounds suggestive of acute chest syndrome and heart failure

A nurse cares for clients with hematological disorders and notes that women are diagnosed with hemochromatosis at a much lower rate than men. What is the primary reason for this?

Women lose iron through menstrual cycles

The nurse is caring for a client with external bleeding. What is the nurse's priority intervention?

Direct pressure

A patient with End Stage Kidney Disease is taking recombinant erythropoietin for the treatment of anemia. What laboratory study does the nurse understand will have to be assessed at least monthly related to this medication?

Hemoglobin level

A client with severe anemia reports symptoms of tachycardia, palpitations, exertional dyspnea, cool extremities, and dizziness with ambulation. Laboratory test results reveal low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Based on the assessment data, which nursing diagnoses is most appropriate for this client?

Ineffective tissue perfusion related to inadequate hemoglobin and hematocrit

A nurse assesses a client diagnosed with megaloblastic anemia. Which clinical findings will the nurse most likely find? Select all that apply.

Jaundice Ulcerated corners of the mouth Concave nails

During the review of morning laboratory values for a client reporting severe fatigue and a red, swollen tongue, the nurse suspects chronic, severe iron deficiency anemia based on which finding?

Low ferritin level concentration

The nurse is assessing a patient who is a strict vegetarian. What type of anemia is the nurse aware that this patient is at risk for?

Megaloblastic anemia

A client with a diagnosis of pernicious anemia comes to the clinic and reports numbness and tingling in the arms and legs. What do these symptoms indicate?

Neurologic involvement

The couple with the lowest risk of having a child with sickle cell anemia disease is the one in which the:

father is HbA and the mother is HbS.

A client has a history of sickle cell anemia with several sickle cell crises over the past 10 years. What blood component results in sickle cell anemia?

hemoglobin S

The nurse obtains a unit of blood for the client, Donald D. Smith. The name on the label on the unit of blood reads Donald A. Smith. All the other identifiers are correct. What action should the nurse take?

Refuse to administer the blood

The nurse is screening donors for blood donation. Which client is an acceptable donor for blood?

Reports having a cold 1 month ago that resolved quickly

A client at the clinic has just been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. What would you recommend the client consume to promote the absorption of iron?

Rich sources of vitamin C

Which type of hemolytic anemia is categorized as inherited disorder?

Sickle cell anemia

A client with a pulmonary embolism is being treated with a heparin infusion. What diagnostic finding suggests to the nurse that treatment is effective?

The client's activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is 1.5 to 2.5 times the control value.

A client's family member asks the nurse why disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) occurs. Which statement by the nurse correctly explains the cause of DIC?

"DIC is caused by abnormal activation of the clotting pathway, causing excessive amounts of tiny clots to form inside organs."

A client with megaloblastic anemia reports mouth and tongue soreness. What instruction will the nurse give the client regarding eating while managing the client's symptoms?

"Eat small amounts of bland, soft foods frequently."

The nurse is collecting data for a client who has been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia. What subjective findings does the nurse recognize as symptoms related to this type of anemia?

"I have difficulty breathing when walking 30 feet."

The nurse observes a co-worker who always seems to be eating a cup of ice. The nurse encourages the co-worker to have an examination and diagnostic workup with the health care provider. What type of anemia is the nurse concerned the co-worker may have?

Iron deficiency anemia

While assessing a client, the nurse discovers the client has a history of restless leg syndrome. Which hematological condition does the nurse associate with this condition?

Iron deficiency anemia

The nurse is performing an assessment for a client with anemia admitted to the hospital to have blood transfusions administered. Why would the nurse need to include a nutritional assessment for this patient?

It may indicate deficiencies in essential nutrients

A few minutes after beginning a blood transfusion, a nurse notes that a client has chills, dyspnea, and urticaria. The nurse reports this to the health care provider immediately because the client probably is experiencing which problem?

A hemolytic allergic reaction caused by an antigen reaction

A client is hospitalized 3 days prior to a total hip arthroplasty and reports a high level of pain with ambulation. The client has been taking warfarin at home, which is now discontinued. To prevent the formation of blood clots, which action should the nurse take?

Administer the prescribed enoxaparin (Lovenox).

A nurse cares for a client with anemia requiring nutritional supplementation. Which nursing intervention best promotes client adherence with the prescribed therapy?

Assist the client to incorporate the therapeutic regimen into daily activities.

A nurse is caring for a client with severe anemia. The client is tachycardic and reports dizziness and exertional dyspnea. What signs and symptoms might develop if this client goes into heart failure?

Assisting in prioritizing activities

A male client has been receiving a continuous infusion of weight-based heparin for more than 4 days. The client's PTT is at a level that requires an increase of heparin by 100 units per hour. The client has the laboratory findings shown above. What is the most important action for the nurse to take?

Consult with the physician about discontinuing heparin.

A patient with chronic renal failure is examined by the health care provider for anemia. Which laboratory results will the nurse monitor?

Decreased level of erythropoietin

A nurse provides nutritional information for a patient diagnosed with an iron-deficiency anemia. What education should the nurse provide?

Increase the intake of green, leafy vegetables.

A client is receiving chemotherapy for cancer. The nurse reviews the client's laboratory report and notes that he has thrombocytopenia. To which nursing diagnosis should the nurse give the highest priority?

Ineffective tissue perfusion: Cerebral, cardiopulmonary, GI

Which term refers to an abnormal decrease in white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets?

Pancytopenia

Which of the following is considered an antidote to heparin?

Protamine sulfate

A client is prescribed 325 mg/day of oral ferrous sulfate. What does the nurse include in client teaching?

Take 1 hour before breakfast

A client with chronic anemia has received multiple transfusions. Which client action would the nurse be concerned about relative to the client's condition?

Takes over-the-counter iron supplements

A patient is taking prednisone 60 mg per day for the treatment of an acute exacerbation of Crohn's disease. The patient has developed lymphopenia with a lymphocyte count of less than 1,500 mm3. What should the nurse monitor the client for?

The onset of a bacterial infection

Folate deficiency occurs in people who rarely eat which of the following?

Uncooked vegetables

When evaluating a patient's symptoms that are consistent with a diagnosis of leukemia, the nurse is aware that all leukemias have which common feature?

Unregulated accumulation of white cells in the bone marrow, which replace normal marrow elements

During preparation for bowel surgery, a client receives an antibiotic to reduce intestinal bacteria. The nurse knows that hypoprothrombinemia may occur as a result of antibiotic therapy interfering with synthesis of which vitamin?

Vitamin K

A client has pernicious anemia and has been receiving treatment for several years. Which symptom may be confused with another condition in older adults?

dementia

A female client with the beta-thalassemia trait plans to marry a man of Italian ancestry who also has the trait. Which client statement indicates that she understands the teaching provided by the nurse?

"I'll see a genetic counselor before starting a family."

The nurse is caring for four clients on the medical-surgical unit of the hospital. What client is most likely to be receiving treatment for sickle cell crisis?

A 19-year-old male of African-American descent

A nurse caring for a client who has hemophilia is getting ready to take the client's vital signs. What should the nurse do before taking a blood pressure?

Ask if taking a blood pressure has ever produced bleeding under the skin or in the arm joints.

A client in end-stage renal disease is prescribed epoetin alfa and oral iron supplements. Before administering the next dose of epoetin alfa and oral iron supplement, what is the priority action taken by the nurse?

Assesses the hemoglobin level

A patient with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) has developed anemia. What laboratory finding does the nurse understand to be significant in this stage of anemia?

Creatinine level of 6 mg/100 mL

The nurse is instructing a client about taking a liquid iron preparation for the treatment of iron-deficiency anemia. What should the nurse include in the instructions?

Dilute the liquid preparation with another liquid such as juice and drink with a straw.

The nurse observes the laboratory studies for a client in the hospital with fatigue, feeling cold all of the time, and hemoglobin of 8.6 g/dL and a hematocrit of 28%. What finding would be an indicator of iron-deficiency anemia?

Erythrocytes that are microcytic and hypochromic

When assessing a client with a disorder of the hematopoietic or the lymphatic system, which assessment is most essential?

Health history, such as bleeding, fatigue, or fainting

The nurse, caring for a client in the emergency room with a severe nosebleed, becomes concerned when the client asks for a bedpan. The nurse documents the stool as loose, tarry, and black looking. The nurse suspects the client may have thrombocytopenia. What should be the nurse's priority action?

Notify the physician

A pregnant woman is hospitalized as the result of sickle-cell crisis. Which finding indicates the outcome has been achieved for this client?

Reports joint pain less than 3 on a scale of 0 to 10

After receiving chemotherapy for lung cancer, a client's platelet count falls to 98,000/mm3. What term should the nurse use to describe this low platelet count?

Thrombocytopenia

A young client is diagnosed with a mild form of hemophilia and is experiencing bleeding in the joints with pain. In preparing the client for discharge, what instructions should the nurse provide?

Wear a medical identification bracelet

The nurse is planning care for a client with severe fatigue secondary to anemia. What concept will the nurse use as the basis for planning interventions?

Assisting in prioritizing activities

A patient describes numbness in the arms and hands with a tingling sensation. The patient also frequently stumbles when walking. What vitamin deficiency does the nurse determine may cause some of these symptoms?

B12

The nurse provides care for an older adult client, diagnosed with anemia, who has a hemoglobin of 9.6 g/dL and a hematocrit of 34%. To determine the cause of the client's blood loss, which is the priority nursing action?

Observe the client's stools for blood.

A nurse is caring for a client with iron deficiency anemia. Which food or beverage will the nurse suggest to the client to eat or drink when taking supplemental iron?

Orange juice

A nurse on a hematology/oncology floor is caring for a client with aplastic anemia. Which would not be included in the client's discharge instructions?

Use a disposable razor when shaving

A nurse is caring for a client with thrombocytopenia. What is the best way to protect this client?

Use the smallest needle possible for injections.