A client with SCD has an elevated serum ferritin level.
What is the significance of an elevated serum ferritin level in a patient with SCD?
It indicates adequate iron stores.
It suggests iron deficiency anemia.
It may signal iron overload.
It reflects normal hemoglobin levels.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice C rationale:
An elevated serum ferritin level in a patient with sickle cell disease (SCD) may signal iron overload.
Iron overload is a potential complication of chronic blood transfusions, which are often required in SCD to treat anemia and prevent complications.
Excessive iron accumulation can lead to organ damage, particularly in the liver, heart, and endocrine glands.
Monitoring and managing iron levels, including serum ferritin, are essential in SCD patients who receive regular transfusions.
Choice A rationale:
An elevated serum ferritin level does not indicate adequate iron stores.
In fact, it suggests the opposite, as it implies an excess of stored iron in the body.
Choice B rationale:
An elevated serum ferritin level is not indicative of iron deficiency anemia.
Iron deficiency anemia is characterized by low serum ferritin levels, as ferritin stores are depleted in this condition.
Choice D rationale:
An elevated serum ferritin level does not reflect normal hemoglobin levels.
Ferritin is a marker of iron storage and does not directly indicate the hemoglobin level, which measures the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells.
.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","D"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Gathering information about the patient's personal and family history of SCD or trait.
Rationale: Understanding the patient's personal and family history of SCD or the sickle cell trait is crucial in assessing the risk and potential complications associated with the disease.
It helps identify genetic factors, family support, and the likelihood of the patient experiencing complications related to SCD.
Choice B rationale:
Assessing the location, intensity, and duration of pain.
Rationale: Pain is a hallmark symptom of SCD, and assessing the location, intensity, and duration of pain is essential in managing and monitoring the patient's condition.
This information helps healthcare providers determine the severity of the pain crisis, make treatment decisions, and assess treatment effectiveness.
Choice D rationale:
Inspecting for signs of anemia and jaundice during the physical examination.
Rationale: Anemia and jaundice are common clinical manifestations of SCD.
Anemia results from the destruction of sickled red blood cells, while jaundice occurs due to the breakdown of these cells and the release of bilirubin.
Assessing for signs of anemia and jaundice, such as pallor and yellowing of the skin and sclera, is essential in monitoring the patient's overall health.
Choice C rationale:
Measuring the patient's temperature, pulse, and blood pressure.
Rationale: While vital signs are important components of a nursing assessment, they are not specific to sickle cell disease.
Monitoring vital signs is a routine practice in healthcare but may not provide specific information about the disease's complications or progression.
Choice E rationale:
Conducting genetic testing to confirm the diagnosis of SCD.
Rationale: Genetic testing is essential for diagnosing sickle cell disease, but it is typically performed before the patient is confirmed to have SCD.
Once a diagnosis is established, genetic testing may not be necessary for routine assessment.
It is crucial in the initial diagnostic phase but is not a part of ongoing nursing assessment.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Hemoglobin electrophoresis is not primarily used to measure the number and size of red blood cells.
It focuses on the types of hemoglobin present in the blood, not their quantity or size.
Choice B rationale:
The primary purpose of hemoglobin electrophoresis in the diagnostic workup for sickle cell disease (SCD) is to identify the presence and amount of abnormal hemoglobins.
This test helps diagnose and differentiate various types of hemoglobinopathies, including SCD.
Abnormal hemoglobins like hemoglobin S (HbS) are characteristic of SCD.
Choice C rationale:
Hemoglobin electrophoresis does not expose a blood sample to a deoxygenating agent.
Instead, it separates hemoglobin molecules based on their electrical charge, which is useful for identifying abnormal hemoglobins associated with SCD.
Choice D rationale:
Hemoglobin electrophoresis does not analyze the DNA of a blood sample.
It primarily focuses on the characterization of hemoglobin types and their proportions within the blood.
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