PREP U (1340) Ch 31 Caring for Clients with Disorders of the Hematopoietic System

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." Because the client with megaloblastic anemia often reports mouth and tongue soreness, the nurse should instruct the client to eat small amounts of bland, soft foods frequently. The other answer choices do not factor in the client's mouth soreness or need for nutrition.

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."

A client with a recent diagnosis of ITP has asked the nurse why the care team has not chosen to administer platelets, stating, "I have low platelets, so why not give me a transfusion of exactly what I'm missing?" How should the nurse best respond?

"Transfused platelets usually aren't beneficial because they're rapidly destroyed in the body." Despite extremely low platelet counts, platelet transfusions are usually avoided. Transfusions tend to be ineffective not because the platelets are nonfunctional but because the client's antiplatelet antibodies bind with the transfused platelets, causing them to be destroyed. Matching the client's blood type is not usually necessary for a platelet transfusion. Platelet transfusions do not exacerbate low platelet production.

Which nursing intervention should be incorporated into the plan of care to manage the delayed clotting process due to thrombocytopenia in a client with leukemia?

Applying prolonged pressure to needle sites or other sources of external bleeding The interventions for a client with thrombocytopenia are the same as those for a client with cancer who is at risk for bleeding. For a client with leukemia, the nurse should apply prolonged pressure to needle sites or other sources of external bleeding. Reduced platelet production results in a delayed clotting process and increases the potential for hemorrhage. Implementing neutropenic precautions and eliminating direct contact with others are interventions to address the risk for infection.

A client with several chronic health problems has been newly diagnosed with a qualitative platelet defect. What component of the client's previous medication regimen may have contributed to the development of this disorder?

Aspirin Aspirin may induce a platelet disorder. Even small amounts of aspirin reduce normal platelet aggregation, and the prolonged bleeding time lasts for several days after aspirin ingestion. Calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 do not have the potential to induce a platelet defect.

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. When planning care for a client with severe fatigue secondary to anemia, the nurse should act collaboratively with the client and assist in prioritizing activities. The client ultimately determines the balance between rest and activity, not the nurse. The nurse will balance activities and group nursing interventions in order to prevent client fatigue.

When teaching a client with sickle cell disease about strategies to prevent crises, what measures should the nurse recommend?

Avoiding cold temperatures and ensuring sufficient hydration Keeping warm and providing adequate hydration can be effective in diminishing the occurrence and severity of attacks. Hygiene, antibiotics, and high protein intake do not prevent crises. Maximizing activity may exacerbate pain and be unrealistic.

Which is a symptom of hemochromatosis?

Bronzing of the skin Clients with hemochromatosis exhibit symptoms of weakness, lethargy, arthralgia, weight loss, and loss of libido early in the illness trajectory. The skin may appear hyperpigmented from melanin deposits or appear bronze in color.

The nurse is educating a client about iron supplements. The nurse teaches that what vitamin enhances the absorption of iron?

C Vitamin C facilitates the absorption of iron. Therefore, iron supplements should be taken with a glass of orange juice or a vitamin C tablet to maximize absorption.

A client reports feeling tired, cold, and short of breath at times. Assessment reveals tachycardia and reduced energy. What would the nurse expect the physician to order?

CBC Most clients with iron-deficiency anemia have reduced energy, feel cold all the time, and experience fatigue and dyspnea with minor physical exertion. The heart rate usually is rapid even at rest. The CBC and hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum iron levels are decreased. A CBC would be ordered.

A client newly diagnosed with thrombocytopenia is admitted to the medical unit. After the admission assessment, the client asks the nurse to explain the disease. What potential etiology should the nurse explain to this client?

Decreased production of platelets. Thrombocytopenia can result from a decreased platelet production, increased platelet destruction, or increased consumption of platelets. Impaired platelet communication, antibodies, and autoimmune processes are not typical pathologies.

The nurse is educating a patient with iron deficiency anemia about food sources high in iron and how to enhance the absorption of iron when eating these foods. What can the nurse inform the client would enhance the absorption?

Eating calf's liver with a glass of orange juice Food sources high in iron include organ meats (e.g., beef or calf's liver, chicken liver), other meats, beans (e.g., black, pinto, and garbanzo), leafy green vegetables, raisins, and molasses. Taking iron-rich foods with a source of vitamin C (e.g., orange juice) enhances the absorption of iron.

A client with poorly controlled diabetes has developed end-stage kidney injury and consequent anemia. When reviewing this client's treatment plan, the nurse should anticipate the use of what drug?

Epoetin alfa The anemia that accompanies end-stage kidney injury is caused by decreased synthesis of erythropoietin. Exogenous forms are necessary to stimulate erythropoiesis. Heparin, vitamin K, and magnesium are not indicated in the treatment of kidney injury or the consequent anemia.

An adult client has been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia. What nursing diagnosis is most likely to apply to this client's health status?

Fatigue related to decreased oxygen-carrying capacity Fatigue is the major assessment finding common to all forms of anemia. Anemia does not normally result in acute pain or fluid deficit. The client may have an increased risk of infection due to impaired immune function, but fatigue is more likely.

When assessing a client with anemia, which assessment is essential?

Health history, including menstrual history in women When assessing a client with anemia, it is essential to assess the client's health history. Women should be questioned about their menstrual periods (e.g., excessive menstrual flow, other vaginal bleeding) and the use of iron supplements during pregnancy.

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 When using recombinant erythropoietin, the hemoglobin must be checked at least monthly (more frequently until a maintenance dose is established) and the dose titrated to ensure the hemoglobin level does not exceed 12 g/dL.

The nurse cares for several clients with hematological conditions. Which assessment needs will the nurse prioritize for the client with aplastic anemia? Select all that apply.

Infection Bleeding All clients with aplastic anemia need to have prioritized assessments for infection and bleeding. Injury, oxygenation, and perfusion are not the priority assessments for clients with aplastic 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 nutritional assessment is important, because it may indicate deficiencies in essential nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12, and folate.

A 63-year-old woman has been diagnosed with polycythemia vera (PV) after undergoing a series of diagnostic tests. When the woman's nurse is providing health education, what subject should the nurse prioritize?

Lifestyle modifications and techniques for preventing thromboembolism The increased blood volume and viscosity that are the hallmarks of PV create a significant risk of thromboembolism. A vascular access device is not necessary for the treatment of PV, and a low-iron diet does not resolve the disease. Patients may experience fatigue, but this risk is superseded by that of thromboembolism.

While assessing a client, the nurse will recognize what as the most obvious sign of anemia?

Pallor On physical examination, pallor is the most common and obvious sign of anemia. Other findings may include tachycardia and flow murmurs. Patients with hemolytic anemia may exhibit jaundice and splenomegaly.

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?

Peripheral edema Cardiac status should be carefully assessed in clients with anemia. When the hemoglobin level is low, the heart attempts to compensate by pumping faster and harder in an effort to deliver more blood to hypoxic tissue. This increased cardiac workload can result in such symptoms such as tachycardia, palpitations, dyspnea, dizziness, orthopnea, and exertional dyspnea. Heart failure may eventually develop, as evidenced by an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) and liver (hepatomegaly), and by peripheral edema. Nausea, migraine, and fever are not associated with heart failure.

A patient with a diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is currently receiving IVIG for the treatment of her health condition. The nurse who is providing this patient's care is aware that ITP is a consequence of:

Platelet destruction and impaired platelet production resulting from an autoimmune process Although the precise cause of ITP remains unknown, the platelet count is decreased by a combination of autoantibody-mediated platelet destruction and impaired platelet production secondary to autoantibody effects on the megakaryocyte. Viruses, impaired liver function, and inappropriate platelet aggregation are not dimensions of the etiology of ITP.

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 An expected outcome for a client experiencing a sickle-cell crisis is control and reduction of pain. Hydroxyurea is contraindicated in pregnancy because of the risk it poses for congenital abnormalities. An indication that the client is free from infection is exhibiting a normal temperature; 100.3°F is an elevated temperature. To minimize crises, the client needs to stay warm not cool.

A client has been living with a diagnosis of anemia for several years and has experienced recent declines in her hemoglobin levels despite active treatment. What assessment finding would signal complications of anemia?

Shortness of breath and peripheral edema A significant complication of anemia is heart failure from chronic diminished blood volume and the heart's compensatory effort to increase cardiac output. Clients with anemia should be assessed for signs and symptoms of heart failure, including dyspnea and peripheral edema. None of the other listed signs and symptoms is characteristic of heart failure.

Which type of hemolytic anemia is categorized as inherited disorder?

Sickle cell anemia Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is an inherited abnormality resulting in hemolytic anemia. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia is an acquired anemia. Cold agglutinin disease is an acquired anemia. Hypersplenism results in an acquired hemolytic anemia.

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

Take 1 hour before breakfast Instructions the nurse will provide for the client taking oral ferrous sulfate is to administer the medication on an empty stomach. Instructions also include that there is decreased absorption of iron with food, particularly dairy products. The client is to increase vitamin C intake (fruits, juices, tomatoes, broccoli), which will enhance iron absorption. The client is to also increase foods high in fiber to decrease risk of constipation.

A client with von Willebrand disease (vWD) has experienced recent changes in bowel function that suggest the need for a screening colonoscopy. What intervention should be performed in anticipation of this procedure?

The client should be given necessary clotting factors before the procedure. A goal of treating vWD is to replace the deficient protein (e.g., vWF or factor VIII) prior to an invasive procedure to prevent subsequent bleeding. Bowel cleansing is not contraindicated and FFP does not reduce the client's risk of bleeding. There may or may not be a need for preprocedure hospital admission.

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. The therapeutic effect of heparin is monitored by serial measurements of the aPTT; the dose is adjusted to maintain the range at 1.5 to 2.5 times the laboratory control. Heparin dosing is not determined on the basis of platelet levels, the presence or absence of clotting factors, or PT levels.

A patient, newly diagnosed with thrombocytopenia, is admitted to the medical unit. After the admission assessment the patient asks the nurse to explain the disease. What should the nurse explain to the patient about this condition?

There could be decreased production of platelets Thrombocytopenia can result from a decreased platelet production, increased platelet destruction, or increased consumption of platelets. Increased production of platelets is associated with thrombocythemia. Decreased white blood cell production is associated with leukopenia.disc

A client is admitted to the hospital with pernicious anemia. The nurse should prepare to administer which of the following medications?

Vitamin B12 Pernicious anemia is characterized by vitamin B12 deficiency. Magnesium sulfate, lactulose, and folic acid do not address the pathology of this type of anemia.

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 Hemochromatosis is a genetic condition where excess iron is absorbed in the GI tract and deposited in various organs, making them dysfunctional. Women are often less affected than men because women lose excess iron through their menstrual cycles. The other answer choices are not correct reasons why women are impacted less than men with hemochromatosis.

A night nurse is reviewing the next day's medication administration record (MAR) of a hospital client who has hemophilia. The nurse notes that the MAR specifies both oral and subcutaneous options for the administration of a PRN antiemetic. What is the nurse's best action?

Contact the prescriber to have the subcutaneous option discontinued. Injections must be avoided in clients with hemophilia. Consequently, the nurse should ensure that the prescriber makes the necessary change. The nurse cannot independently make a change to a client's MAR in most cases. Facilitating the necessary change is preferable to deferring to the day nurse.

A client with anemia has been admitted to the medical-surgical unit. Which assessment findings are characteristic of iron deficiency anemia?

Dyspnea, tachycardia, and pallor Signs of iron deficiency anemia include dyspnea, tachycardia, and pallor, as well as fatigue, listlessness, irritability, and headache. Night sweats, weight loss, and diarrhea may signal acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Nausea, vomiting, and anorexia may be signs of hepatitis B. Itching, rash, and jaundice may result from an allergic or hemolytic reaction.

A client's absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is 440/mm3 but the nurse's assessment reveals no apparent signs or symptoms of infection. What action should the nurse prioritize when providing care for this client?

Meticulous hand hygiene Providing care for a client with neutropenia requires that the nurse adhere closely to standard precautions and infection control procedures. Hand hygiene is central to such efforts. Prophylactic antibiotics are rarely used and it is not possible to provide a sterile environment for care. Nutrition is highly beneficial, but hand hygiene is the central aspect of care.