What follow-up care is most important for the nurse to teach a patient who has had a splenectomy?
a. Monthly coagulation studies
b. Yearly influenza vaccination
c. Oral analgesics for pain control
d. Routine transfusion of packed red blood cells to prevent anemia
ANS: B
Without a spleen to assist in the immune response, the patient is at risk for infection, making flu vaccination important. Coagulation studies and transfusions are not necessary. Oral analgesics may be needed for a short time but are not as essential as preventing infection.
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