A client has an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of 500/mm3 (0.5 x 10/L) after completing chemotherapy. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement? Reference Range:

Neutrophils (ANC) [2.500 to 5,800/mm (2.5 to 5.8 x 10/L)]

A. Patients with respiratory distress often prefer to sit upright or in a tripod position to ease breathing by allowing maximal lung expansion. Sitting upright helps relieve pressure on the diaphragm and allows better air exchange in the lungs.
B. Chest tightness is a common symptom of various respiratory conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or pneumonia. It can result from bronchoconstriction, inflammation, or accumulation of mucus in the airways, leading to difficulty breathing.
D. An increased respiratory rate (tachypnea) may indicate respiratory distress or difficulty breathing. Tachypnea is a compensatory mechanism to increase oxygen intake or remove carbon dioxide from the body when lung function is compromised.
E. Restlessness can be a cue for a respiratory problem. Patients experiencing respiratory distress may exhibit restlessness due to hypoxia (low oxygen levels), discomfort, or anxiety related to difficulty breathing.
F. Dyspnea, or shortness of breath, is a significant cue for a respiratory problem. It is a common symptom of various respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD, pneumonia, and pulmonary embolism. Dyspnea may range from mild to severe and can significantly impact the patient's quality of life and functional status.
G. A pulse oxygenation level of 85% indicates hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels) and is a significant cue for a respiratory problem. Hypoxemia can result from various respiratory conditions or inadequate ventilation and may lead to tissue hypoxia and organ dysfunction if left untreated.
C. Medication compliance is not directly indicative of a respiratory problem. However, it may be relevant to managing respiratory conditions if the patient requires medications such as bronchodilators or corticosteroids to control symptoms or prevent exacerbations.
H. While an elevated heart rate (tachycardia) can be associated with respiratory distress, it is not specific to respiratory problems and may occur in response to other stressors or medical conditions.
I. Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight and is not directly indicative of a respiratory problem. However, obesity is a risk factor for respiratory conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea and obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

B. Changes in hematocrit (red blood cell count) and blood pressure can indicate potential complications or changes in the client's condition, such as internal bleeding or rupture of the aneurysm. Therefore, communicating hematocrit and blood pressure values would be important for the healthcare provider to assess in this situation.
A. While calcium level and skin condition are important aspects of overall health, they may not be directly relevant to the assessment of low back pain in a client with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Therefore, this information may not be the most critical for the healthcare provider to assess in this specific situation.
C. These parameters are also important for assessing a client's condition, especially in the context of potential infection or systemic inflammation. However, they may not be directly related to the specific symptom of low back pain in a client with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. While changes in white blood cell count and pulse rate could indicate infection or other complications, they may not be the most critical information to communicate in this scenario.
D. While serum amylase levels and level of consciousness are important indicators of pancreatic function and neurological status, respectively, they may not be directly related to the symptom of low back pain in a client with an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Therefore, these parameters may not be the most critical information to communicate in this situation.