A client who has just returned from an extended mountain-climbing trip in the Andes is seen in a clinic for an elective procedure. Preprocedure blood work reveals a very high hemoglobin level and red blood cell count

Question

Which action should the nurse take?
1. Ask if the client ate a lot of iron-rich raisins in trail mix on the journey.
2. Place the lab results in the chart for the health care provider to review prior to the procedure.
3. Ask if the client used supplemental oxygen during high-altitude climbing.
4. Call the lab and have the test repeated.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: Raisins are high in iron, and iron is necessary to form the hemoglobin molecule. A high iron level by itself would not increase the red cell count or elevate the hemoglobin level.
Rationale 2: Chronic hypoxia at high altitudes increases the red blood cell count and the hemoglobin level. These levels are compensatory changes that allow the blood to carry more oxygen to the cells.
Rationale 3: Supplemental oxygen is necessary at high altitudes because the amount of oxygen is insufficient to meet a climber's needs. Supplemental oxygen tends to decrease erythropoietin production.
Rationale 4: There is no need to have the test repeated, as this value is probably correct.
Global Rationale: Chronic hypoxia at high altitudes increases the red blood cell count and the hemoglobin level. These levels are compensatory changes that allow the blood to carry more oxygen to the cells. Raisins are high in iron, and iron is necessary to form the hemoglobin molecule. A high iron level by itself would not increase the red cell count or elevate the hemoglobin level. Supplemental oxygen is necessary at high altitudes because the amount of oxygen is insufficient to meet a climber's needs. Supplemental oxygen tends to decrease erythropoietin production. There is no need to have the test repeated, as this value is probably correct.