The nurse is caring for a patient with aplastic anemia. Which actions are most important for the nurse to take?

Question

a. Alternate activity with periods of rest and provide magazines.
b. Provide a soft toothbrush and decrease clutter in the room.
c. Request an order for telemetry and limit intake of potassium-rich foods.
d. Encourage the patient to reposition regu-larly and float heels on pillows.

Answer 1

B
Aplastic anemia can cause bleeding episodes. Priority nursing actions are directed toward pre-venting the episodes. Providing a soft toothbrush and decreasing clutter in the room are interven-tions to reduce risk of bleeding. While aplastic anemia can cause fatigue, and limiting activity and providing nontaxing entertainment can help, fatigue is a lesser priority than decreasing risk for bleeding. Requesting an order for telemetry and limiting intake of potassium-rich foods are indicated when monitoring high-potassium levels (which are not typical of aplastic anemia). Re-positioning and floating heels are interventions helpful in preventing skin breakdown.