What is the best explanation that you can provide to a pregnant client who is concerned that she has "pseudoanemia" of pregnancy?
a. Have her write down her concerns and tell her that you will ask the physician to respond once the lab results have been evaluated.
b. Tell her that this is a benign self-limiting condition that can be easily corrected by switching to a high-iron diet.
c. Inform her that because of the pregnancy, her blood volume has increased, leading to a substantial dilution effect on her serum blood levels, and that most women experience this condition.
d. Contact the physician and get a prescription for iron pills to correct this condition.
ANS: C
Providing factual information based on physiologic mechanisms is the best option. Although having the client write down her concerns is reasonable, the nurse should not refer this conversation to the physician but rather address the client's specific concerns. Switching to a high-iron diet will not correct this condition. This physiologic pattern occurs during pregnancy as a result of hemodilution from excess blood volume. Iron medication is not indicated for correction of this condition. There is no need to contact the physician for a prescription.
You might also like to view...
In a case-control design, a frequently used method of controlling confounding variables is which of the following?
A) Using participants as their own controls B) Matching of cases and controls on confounding variables C) Randomization to groups D) Homogeneity of the sample
Which options reflect a scenario that violates the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. If a resident attempts to get out of bed, a soft vest restraint is applied. 2. The nursing staff routinely leave doors open when getting residents up to bedside commodes. 3. The patient is not consulted prior to a change in medical treatment. 4. The nursing assistant is overheard telling a resident, "If you don't eat, I won't take you down to play dominoes this afternoon." 5. The resident falls during a physical therapy session, despite being attended by two staff members.
Which vaccine reaction, noted by the mother during a telephone conversation with a nurse, would require activation of emergency medical services?
1. A few hives are noted around the injection site. 2. The child is running a slight temperature. 3. The child has swelling of the face. 4. Fever and joint pains occurring within hours of the vaccination.
Carbon monoxide causes tissue damage by:
a. Competing with carbon dioxide so that it cannot be excreted b. Binding to hemoglobin so that it cannot carry oxygen c. Destroying the chemical bonds of hemoglobin so it cannot carry oxygen d. Removing iron from hemoglobin so it cannot carry oxygen