Evaluation
Evaluation ( 5 Questions)
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory results of a client who had a postpartum hemorrhage.
The nurse notes that the client’s hematocrit level is 28%.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A blood transfusion is not indicated for mild anemia and may carry risks of infection or transfusion reaction.
Encourage oral intake of iron-rich foods. A hematocrit level of 28% indicates mild anemia, which can be treated with dietary iron supplementation. The normal range of hematocrit for women is 36% to 48%.
Increasing the rate of intravenous fluids may dilute the blood and lower the hematocrit level further.
Notifying the provider of the finding is not a direct action that the nurse can take to treat the anemia. The provider may already be aware of the laboratory results and may not need to be notified unless there are signs of worsening anemia or bleeding.
Encourage oral intake of iron-rich foods. A hematocrit level of 28% indicates mild anemia, which can be treated with dietary iron supplementation. The normal range of hematocrit for women is 36% to 48%.
Choice A is wrong because a blood transfusion is not indicated for mild anemia and may carry risks of infection or transfusion reaction.
Choice C is wrong because increasing the rate of intravenous fluids may dilute the blood and lower the hematocrit level further.
Choice D is wrong because notifying the provider of the finding is not a direct action that the nurse can take to treat the anemia. The provider may already be aware of the laboratory results and may not need to be notified unless there are signs of worsening anemia or bleeding.