A client with sickle cell anemia has a:
Normal hematocrit
Low hematocrit
High hematocrit
Normal blood smear
The Correct Answer is B
Reasoning:
Choice A reason: Normal hematocrit is not typical in sickle cell anemia, a hemolytic disorder where red blood cells are destroyed prematurely due to abnormal hemoglobin (HbS). Chronic hemolysis reduces red blood cell mass, lowering hematocrit, making a normal value inconsistent with the disease’s pathophysiology.
Choice B reason: Low hematocrit is characteristic of sickle cell anemia due to chronic hemolysis. Sickled red blood cells have a shorter lifespan, reducing circulating red blood cells and hemoglobin, resulting in a decreased hematocrit. This reflects the anemia’s impact on oxygen-carrying capacity, a hallmark of the condition.
Choice C reason: High hematocrit is not associated with sickle cell anemia. Elevated hematocrit occurs in conditions like polycythemia, where red blood cell mass increases. Sickle cell anemia causes hemolysis, reducing red blood cells and hematocrit, making a high value inconsistent with the disease.
Choice D reason: A normal blood smear is not expected in sickle cell anemia. Blood smears show sickled red blood cells, anisocytosis, and poikilocytosis due to hemoglobin S polymerization. These abnormal findings contrast with a normal smear, which would not reflect the hemolytic and morphological changes of the disease.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Reasoning:
Choice A reason: Excessive thirst, or polydipsia, is a hallmark of diabetes insipidus. ADH deficiency leads to excessive water loss through dilute urine, causing dehydration. This triggers the thirst mechanism to compensate for fluid loss, prompting increased water intake to maintain hydration, a key clinical feature of this condition.
Choice B reason: Low urine output, or oliguria, is not associated with diabetes insipidus. This condition causes polyuria due to impaired water reabsorption from ADH deficiency, leading to large volumes of dilute urine. Low urine output is more typical of conditions like acute kidney injury or SIADH.
Choice C reason: Weight gain is not a feature of diabetes insipidus. The condition leads to water loss and dehydration, often causing weight loss due to reduced fluid volume. Weight gain might occur in conditions like SIADH, where water retention dilutes sodium and increases body fluid content.
Choice D reason: Excessive activities are not a clinical manifestation of diabetes insipidus. This condition primarily affects fluid balance, causing polyuria and polydipsia. Increased activity levels are not linked to ADH deficiency, and patients may experience fatigue due to dehydration, not heightened physical activity.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Reasoning:
Choice A reason: A blood pressure reading of 120/85 mm Hg is normal but not specific to SIADH. While fluid overload in SIADH may elevate blood pressure, this reading is not diagnostic. Hypertension is possible but not a consistent finding, as fluid retention primarily causes hyponatremia and other symptoms.
Choice B reason: Pitting edema in the lower extremities is uncommon in SIADH, as fluid retention is primarily intravascular, leading to dilutional hyponatremia rather than extravascular edema. Edema is more typical in conditions like heart failure or nephrotic syndrome, not the water retention mechanism of SIADH.
Choice C reason: Normal skin turgor is not typical in SIADH, as water retention can cause slight fluid overload, potentially leading to subtle tissue swelling. While not as pronounced as edema, skin turgor may be slightly increased due to excess fluid, making “normal” less accurate than moist mucous membranes.
Choice D reason: Moist mucous membranes are expected in SIADH due to excessive water retention from ADH overactivity. This leads to fluid overload, keeping mucosal tissues hydrated and moist, unlike the dehydration seen in diabetes insipidus, which causes dry mucous membranes due to water loss.
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