Blood Basics & Labs
This lab value would be falsely elevated in a severely dehydrated patient with no actual increase in red blood cells.
What is hematocrit?
A patient with chronic poor iron intake presents with brittle nails, fatigue, and pallor.
What is iron-deficiency anemia?
A patient states, “I stopped drinking fluids because I didn’t want to urinate so often.” The nurse recognizes this behavior increases risk for this complication.
What is sickle cell crisis due to dehydration?
This condition involves a platelet count below 150,000/mm³.
What is thrombocytopenia?
A patient with hemophilia reports sudden knee swelling, warmth, and severe pain after mild trauma.
What is hemarthrosis?
A CBC shows anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. This pattern suggests failure of this structure.
What is the bone marrow?
A patient with numbness, sore tongue, and a history of gastric surgery develops anemia due to lack of absorption of this vitamin.
What is vitamin B12?
A patient with sickle cell disease experiences crisis after traveling to a high-altitude location. The nurse identifies this trigger.
What is hypoxia?
A patient has petechiae, ecchymosis, and bleeding gums. The nurse’s priority is preventing this complication.
What is hemorrhage?
A patient with hemophilia requires pain management. Which commonly used medication must be avoided due to increased bleeding risk?
What is aspirin?
A patient has a normal RBC count but reduced oxygen delivery to tissues. This lab value is most likely low.
What is hemoglobin?
A patient with chronic kidney disease develops anemia despite normal iron levels because of reduced production of this hormone.
What is erythropoietin?
Sickle cell disease results in abnormal hemoglobin ____ .
What is hemoglobin S?
A septic patient develops bleeding from IV sites and microclots throughout the body.
What is disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)?
A patient with polycythemia vera develops sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. The nurse suspects this life-threatening complication.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
This blood cell type is the first responder to bacterial infections and would be elevated in acute infection.
What are neutrophils?
A patient presents with jaundice, dark urine, and elevated bilirubin due to excessive destruction of RBCs.
What is hemolytic anemia?
During a sickle cell crisis, bilirubin rises because of this process.
What is hemolysis of sickled red blood cells?
A disorder where platelets are destroyed by the immune system.
What is immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)?
A patient with polycythemia vera reports headaches, dizziness, and intense itching after hot showers. The nurse explains these symptoms are caused by:
What is increased blood viscosity from excessive red blood cells?
A patient with chronic kidney disease reports increasing fatigue and activity intolerance. Labs show hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL with normal iron levels and no evidence of bleeding. Which physiologic process is most directly impaired?
What is erythropoietin stimulation of erythropoiesis in the bone marrow?
A patient presents with fatigue, frequent infections, and unexplained bruising. Labs show pancytopenia.
What is aplastic anemia?
The primary pathophysiologic cause of pain in sickle cell disease is blockage of blood flow due to this process.
What is vaso-occlusion?
A patient presents with bleeding and low platelets. Labs show prolonged PT/aPTT and elevated D-dimer. This indicates?
What is DIC?
Hemophilia B is caused by a lack of this clotting factor.
What is factor IX (Christmas factor)?