Recognize Cues
WBC 900 and temp 100.8°F in a chemo patient indicates this
What is Neutropenic fever?
A leukemia patient is pale, febrile, and bruising; the biggest overall problem is this
What is Bone marrow failure?
Leukemia with fever vs Platelets 15,000 no bleeding
Who is the leukemia patient with fever?
INR 6.4 with no active bleeding. What medication may be anticipated?
What is Vitamin K?
Neutropenic fever requires this immediate medication category
What are Broad-spectrum IV antibiotics?
After filgrastim, effectiveness is shown by this lab
What is Increased WBC/ANC?
Platelets 12,000 with petechiae indicates this risk
What is Bleeding?
Tumor lysis syndrome becomes fatal because of this electrolyte imbalance
What is Hyperkalemia?
Hgb 6.9 stable vs GI bleed with hypotension
Who is the GI bleed with hypotension?
Calcium 13.5 and confusion in a myeloma patient. What is the first intervention?
What is Initiate IV normal saline?
Platelets 8,000 with active bleeding requires this treatment
What is Platelet transfusion?
After platelet transfusion, platelets increase from 8,000 to 18,000 but patient develops headache. What is the concern?
What is Intracranial bleeding?
Hgb 6.7 with tachycardia suggests this physiologic problem
What is Decreased oxygen delivery?
Aplastic anemia is more dangerous than simple anemia because this cell line is also low
What are White blood cells and platelets?
Leukemia patient with temp 100.4°F and BP 110/70 vs Platelets 8,000 with mild gum bleeding
Who is the leukemia patient with fever?
ANC 350 and temp 100.9°F. What must the nurse do immediately?
What is Obtain blood cultures and initiate broad-spectrum IV antibiotics?
Hypercalcemia is initially treated with this intervention
What are IV fluids?
Hypercalcemia treated with IV fluids. What assessment indicates improvement?
What is Improved mental status?
Calcium 13.2 with confusion suggests this complication
What is Hypercalcemia crisis?
INR 5.2 is dangerous because it increases this risk
What is Bleeding?
WBC 1,200 temp 99.0°F vs WBC 4,000 temp 102.2°F post chemo
Who is the post-chemo febrile patient?
On heparin and platelets drop from 250k to 90k. What is the first nursing action?
What is Stop the heparin?
Hemophilia bleeding episode requires this treatment
What is Factor replacement?
After filgrastim, WBC increases but temp rises to 101.8°F. What does this suggest?
What is Infection still present?
Potassium 6.5 with peaked T waves indicates this emergency
What is Hyperkalemia?
High potassium:
Disrupts cardiac conduction
Causes lethal dysrhythmias
Can rapidly progress to cardiac arrest
At 6.5 with ECG changes, this is not just lab abnormality — it is cardiotoxic hyperkalemia.
Hypercalcemia is life-threatening because it affects this organ system first
What is The heart (arrhythmias)?
Post-MI patient with HR 48 asymptomatic vs Afib RVR BP 84/50
Who is the hypotensive Afib patient?
Tumor lysis syndrome with rising potassium despite insulin. What intervention may be required next?
What is Dialysis?
Tumor lysis patient K 6.5 and peaked T waves. What medication acts first to stabilize the heart?
What is IV calcium?
After 2 weeks of Epogen, reticulocyte count increases. What does this indicate?
What is Bone marrow responding?