If the patient's white blood cell (WBC) count is 25,000/mm3 on her second postpartum day, the nurse should
a. Tell the physician immediately.
b. Have the laboratory draw blood for reanalysis.
c. Recognize that this is an acceptable range at this point postpartum.
d. Begin antibiotic therapy immediately.
C
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A Since this is a normal finding there is no reason to alert the physician.
B There is no need for reassessment since it is expected for the WBCs to be
elevated.
C Marked leucocytosis occurs with WBC counts increasing to as high as
30,000/mm3 during labor and the immediate postpartum period. The WBC falls
to normal within 6 days postpartum.
D Antibiotics are not needed because the elevated WBCs are due to stress of labor
and not an infectious process.
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