Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia ( 15 Questions)
The patient reports experiencing hematochezia, fatigue, and abdominal pain.
What should the nurse prioritize in the assessment of this patient?
Monitoring the patient's neurological status While monitoring neurological status is important in patient care, it is not the immediate priority when a patient with thrombocytopenia reports hematochezia (bloody stools), fatigue, and abdominal pain. Checking vital signs helps assess the patient's overall stability and guides immediate interventions.
No explanation
Administering corticosteroids Administering corticosteroids may be a treatment option for certain types of thrombocytopenia, but it is not the initial priority in the assessment of a patient presenting with hematochezia, fatigue, and abdominal pain. First, the nurse needs to assess the patient's condition and vital signs to determine the severity of the situation.
Preparing the patient for a splenectomy Preparing a patient for a splenectomy is a significant intervention and should not be the initial priority in this case. It may be considered as a treatment option in some cases of thrombocytopenia, but it should not take precedence over assessing the patient's vital signs and overall condition.
Choice A rationale:
Monitoring the patient's neurological status While monitoring neurological status is important in patient care, it is not the immediate priority when a patient with thrombocytopenia reports hematochezia (bloody stools), fatigue, and abdominal pain.
Checking vital signs helps assess the patient's overall stability and guides immediate interventions.
Choice C rationale:
Administering corticosteroids Administering corticosteroids may be a treatment option for certain types of thrombocytopenia, but it is not the initial priority in the assessment of a patient presenting with hematochezia, fatigue, and abdominal pain.
First, the nurse needs to assess the patient's condition and vital signs to determine the severity of the situation.
Choice D rationale:
Preparing the patient for a splenectomy Preparing a patient for a splenectomy is a significant intervention and should not be the initial priority in this case.
It may be considered as a treatment option in some cases of thrombocytopenia, but it should not take precedence over assessing the patient's vital signs and overall condition.