A nurse is assessing a client with suspected gastrointestinal bleeding. Which stool characteristic is a common clinical manifestation of upper gastrointestinal bleeding?

A) Incorrect. Hemoglobin levels may initially be normal or slightly decreased, but they would decrease later due to the body's compensatory response to dilute the remaining blood.

B) Incorrect. Platelet count may not be significantly affected in the early stages of hemorrhage. It is mainly responsible for clot formation, which becomes more relevant in the later stages.

C) Incorrect. In the early stages of hemorrhage, the white blood cell count is not significantly affected. It plays a role in fighting infection and inflammation.

D) Correct. Hematocrit levels represent the proportion of red blood cells in the blood. During early stages of hemorrhage, there is a loss of red blood cells, leading to decreased hematocrit levels.

A) Correct. Avoiding herbal supplements is important as some herbs can interact with anticoagulant medications and affect their effectiveness.

B) Correct. Notifying the healthcare provider about unusual

bruising is essential, as it may indicate potential bleeding complications associated with anticoagulant therapy.

C) Incorrect. Taking aspirin while on anticoagulant therapy can increase the risk of bleeding and is not recommended without medical guidance.

D) Correct. Carrying a medical alert card indicating anticoagulant use is crucial to inform healthcare providers about the client's medication regimen in case of emergency.

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