A patient who is to receive combination chemotherapy today has an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of 6200 cells/mm3 . What is the certified chemotherapy nurse's best action?
a. Administer the chemotherapy as prescribed.
b. Assess the patient for signs and symptoms of infection.
c. Hold the chemotherapy doses and notify the prescriber.
d. Explain to the patient that the treatment must be delayed until the ANC is ac-ceptable.
A
Although there are exceptions, most agencies permit therapy only if the patient's total WBC is above 2000 cells/mm3 or if the ANC, which includes the segmented neutrophils ("segs," "polys," "PMNs") and band neutrophils ("bands") together, are at least 1500 cells/mm3 . This patient's ANC is well above the minimum needed to receive chemotherapy.
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