Assessment of Hematologic Function and Treatment Modalities (Chapter 32)
A patient will need a blood transfusion for the replacement of blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract. The patient states, "That stuff isn't safe!" What is the best response from the nurse?
"I understand your concern. The blood is carefully screened but is not completely risk free."
The nurse should provide further teaching when a preoperative client considering blood donation makes which of the following statements?
"My family will donate blood, because its safer."
A nurse cares for a client with megaloblastic anemia who had a total gastrectomy three years ago. What statement will the nurse include in the client's teaching regarding the condition?
"The condition is likely caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency."
An older adult patient presents to the physician's office with a complaint of exhaustion. The nurse, aware of the most common hematologic condition affecting the elderly, knows that which laboratory values should be assessed?
RBC count
A nurse, caring for a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), reviews the patient's differential WBC count to check the level of which of the following?
T lymphocytes
The physician believes that the patient has a deficiency in the leukocyte responsible for cell-mediated immunity. What should the nurse check the WBC count for?
T lymphocytes
A nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of lymphocytopenia. Which assessment finding will the nurse consider most concerning when caring for this client?
Temperature of 37.7 degrees Celsius
A client with Hodgkin disease had a bone marrow biopsy yesterday and reports aching at the biopsy site, rated a 5 (on a 1-10 scale). After assessing the biopsy site, which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
administer acetaminophen 500 mg po, as ordered
The physician performs a bone marrow biopsy from the posterior iliac crest on a client with pancytopenia. What intervention should the nurse perform after the procedure?
apply pressure over the site for 5 - 7 minutes
Which type of lymphocyte is responsible for cellular immunity?
T lymphocyte
A nurse is caring for a patient who has had a bone marrow aspiration with biopsy. What complication should the nurse be aware of and monitor the patient for?
hemorrhage
Which blood cell type is matched correctly with its function?
leukocyte: fights infection
Which term refers to a form of white blood cell involved in immune response?
lymphocyte
The nurse should be alert to which adverse assessment finding when transfusing a unit of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) too rapidly?
crackles auscultated bilaterally
The nurse is caring for a client who had undergone hemodilution during surgery. Immediately after surgery, the nurse expects to see which lab result?
decreased hematocrit
A client receiving a unit of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) has been prescribed morphine 1 mg intravenously now for pain. What is the best method for the nurse to administer the morphine?
disconnect the blood tubing, flush with normal saline, and administer morphine
A patient who has long-term packed RBC (PRBC) transfusions has developed symptoms of iron toxicity that affect liver function. What immediate treatment should the nurse anticipate preparing the patient for that can help prevent organ damage?
iron chelation therapy
The nurse is preparing a patient for a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy from the site of the posterior superior iliac crest. What position will the nurse place the patient in?
lateral position with one leg flexed
Which is a symptom of severe thrombocytopenia?
petechiae
A nurse is transfusing whole blood to a client with impaired renal function. During the transfusion, the client tells the nurse, "I feel very short of breath all of a sudden." What is the nurse's primary action?
stop the infusion
A client with a history of congestive heart failure has an order to receive 1 unit of packed red blood cells (RBCs). If the nurse hangs the blood at 12:00 pm, by what time must the infusion be completed?
4:00 pm
A nurse is assigned to care for a patient with ascites, secondary to cirrhosis. The nurse understands that the fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity results from a combination of factors including an alteration in oncotic pressure gradients and increased capillary permeability. Therefore, the nurse monitors the serum level of the plasma protein responsible for maintaining oncotic pressure, which is:
albumin
A client comes into the emergency department reporting an enlarged tongue. The tongue appears smooth and beefy red in color. The nurse also observes a 5-cm incision on the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. When questioned, the client states, "I had a partial gastrostomy 2 years ago." Based on this information, the nurse attributes these symptoms to which problem?
vitamin B12 deficiency
Albumin is important for the maintenance of fluid balance within the vascular system. Albumin is produced by which of the following?
liver
A nurse is reviewing a client's morning laboratory results and notes a left shift in the band cells. Based on this result, the nurse can interpret that the client
may be developing an infection
The body responds to infection by increasing the production of white blood cells (WBCs). The nurse knows to evaluate the differential count for the level of __________, the first WBCs to respond to an inflammatory event.
neutrophils
A client involved in a motor vehicle accident arrives at the emergency department unconscious and severely hypotensive. The nurse suspects he has several fractures in the pelvis and legs. Which parenteral fluid is the best choice for the client's current condition?
packed red blood cells (RBCs)
Which client is not a candidate for blood donation according to the American Heart Association?
26 year old female with hemoglobin 11.0 g/dL (need hemoglobin > 12.5 g/dL)
The nurse is instructing the client with polycythemia vera how to perform isometric exercises such as contracting and relaxing the quadriceps and gluteal muscle during periods of inactivity. What does the nurse understand is the rationale for this type of exercise?
contraction of skeletal muscle compresses the walls of veins and increases the circulation of venous blood as it returns to the heart
Which cell of hematopoiesis is responsible for the production of red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets?
myeloid stem cell
A client receiving a blood transfusion complains of shortness of breath, appears anxious, and has a pulse of 125 beats/minute. What is the best action for the nurse to take after stopping the transfusion and awaiting further instruction from the healthcare provider?
ensure there is an oxygen delivery device at the bedside
A client with severe anemia is admitted to the hospital. Because of religious beliefs, the client is refusing blood transfusions. The nurse anticipates pharmacologic therapy with which drug to stimulate the production of red blood cells?
epoetin alfa
Place the following steps in order when determining the type and severity of a transfusion reaction. Use all options.
stop the infusion; assess the client; notify the health care provider; notify the blood bank; send the tubing and container to the blood bank
The nurse is caring for a client with hypoxia. What does the nurse understand is true regarding the client's oxygen level and the production of red blood cells?
the kidneys sense low oxygen levels in the blood and stimulate erythropoietin, stimulating the bone marrow to produce more RBCs
One hour after the completion of a fresh frozen plasma transfusion, a client reports shortness of breath and is very anxious. The client's vital signs are BP 98/60, HR 110, temperature 99.4°F, and SaO2 88%. Auscultation of the lungs reveals posterior coarse crackles to the mid and lower lobes bilaterally. Based on the symptoms, the nurse suspects the client is experiencing which problem?
transfusion-related acute lung injury
The client is to receive a unit of packed red blood cells. The first intervention of the nurse is to
verify that the client has signed a written consent form
