A nurse is admitting a child who has leukemia and a critically low platelet count. Which of the following precautions should the nurse initiate?
Neutropenic
Droplet
Bleeding
Contact
The Correct Answer is C
A. Neutropenic Precautions: Neutropenia refers to a low neutrophil count, a type of white blood cell responsible for fighting infections. While children with leukemia are at risk for neutropenia due to the disease and its treatment, the primary concern in this scenario is the critically low platelet count and the risk of bleeding. Neutropenic precautions focus on preventing infections.
B. Droplet Precautions: Droplet precautions are used when dealing with respiratory infections that are transmitted through respiratory droplets, such as coughing or sneezing. This is not the primary concern for a child with leukemia and a low platelet count, as the main risk is bleeding due to the low platelet count.
C. Bleeding Precautions: Leukemia, especially in a child with a critically low platelet count, puts the child at a high risk of bleeding. Platelets are essential for blood clotting, and when they are severely decreased, even minor injuries can lead to excessive bleeding. The nurse should take precautions to minimize the risk of bleeding. This includes avoiding invasive procedures, using a soft toothbrush, and ensuring that the child does not participate in activities that could result in injury.
D. Contact Precautions: Contact precautions are used to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases through direct contact. While a child with leukemia may have a weakened immune system and be at risk of infections, the primary concern in this case is the critically low platelet count and the risk of bleeding. Contact precautions are more relevant in cases of contagious diseases where physical contact could transmit the infection.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The reticulocyte count is a measure of young, immature red blood cells. An elevated reticulocyte count indicates the bone marrow's ability to respond to anemia by producing new red blood cells.
For an infant, a reticulocyte count of 8% would be an indicator of severe anemia. An elevated reticulocyte count suggests the body is trying to compensate for the decreased number of mature red blood cells by producing more young ones. This is often seen in severe anemia as the body attempts to increase the red blood cell count.
The other options (A, C, and D) represent normal or less severe reticulocyte counts.
A reticulocyte count of 3% is within the normal range.
A reticulocyte count of 0.5% is on the lower side but not as severe as 8%.
A reticulocyte count of 5% indicates a response to anemia but is not as elevated as 8%.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Bone marrow transplantation.
Severe aplastic anemia is a condition characterized by a significant reduction in the number of blood cells produced by the bone marrow. The primary treatment for severe aplastic anemia is a bone marrow transplantation, also known as a stem cell transplant. This procedure involves replacing the patient's dysfunctional bone marrow with healthy bone marrow or stem cells from a suitable donor. This is done to restore normal blood cell production.
Option B (Exchange transfusion) is not the primary treatment for severe aplastic anemia but may be used in certain cases to manage complications or specific symptoms.
Option C (Liver transplantation) is not a treatment for severe aplastic anemia, as this condition primarily affects the bone marrow and blood cell production.
Option D (Administration of intravenous immunoglobulin) is not the primary treatment for severe aplastic anemia but may be used in some cases to manage complications, such as infections. However, it does not address the underlying cause of the disease, which is the failure of the bone marrow to produce enough blood cells.
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