A nurse is educating a patient and their family about thrombocytopenia.
Which statement accurately describes the normal platelet count range?

Choice A rationale:

Administering alternative anticoagulants.

Administering alternative anticoagulants is not the primary intervention for preventing or managing bleeding in a client with thrombocytopenia.

Anticoagulants may increase the risk of bleeding in such patients and are generally not indicated unless there is a specific medical reason to use them.

Choice B rationale:

Preparing the client for splenectomy.

Splenectomy is not typically performed as a preventive measure for bleeding in thrombocytopenic patients.

While splenectomy may be considered in some cases of immune thrombocytopenia, it is not the essential nursing intervention to prevent or manage bleeding in most clients with thrombocytopenia.

Choice C rationale:

Avoiding platelet transfusions.

Avoiding platelet transfusions is not a recommended intervention in clients with thrombocytopenia who are at risk of bleeding complications.

Platelet transfusions are often necessary to raise platelet levels and prevent or manage bleeding in these individuals.

Choice D rationale:

Applying pressure to any bleeding site and elevating the affected area.

This is the essential nursing intervention to prevent and manage bleeding in clients with thrombocytopenia.

Applying pressure to a bleeding site helps control bleeding, and elevating the affected area can reduce swelling and minimize bleeding.

It is a fundamental measure in the care of thrombocytopenic clients.

Choice A rationale:

"Increased platelet production due to chemotherapy." Rationale: This statement is not accurate.

Chemotherapy often suppresses bone marrow function, leading to a decrease in platelet production, not an increase.

Thrombocytopenia is a common side effect of chemotherapy due to reduced platelet production.

Choice B rationale:

"Immune-mediated platelet destruction caused by chemotherapy." Rationale: This statement is correct.

Thrombocytopenia in patients undergoing chemotherapy is often due to immune-mediated platelet destruction.

Chemotherapy can trigger an autoimmune response, leading to the destruction of platelets by the immune system.

Choice C rationale:

"Thrombocytopenia in this case is unrelated to chemotherapy." Rationale: This statement is unlikely to be true.

Thrombocytopenia occurring in a patient following chemotherapy is often directly related to the treatment.

While other factors may contribute, chemotherapy is a known cause of decreased platelet counts.

Choice D rationale:

"Thrombocytopenia results from the inhibition of platelet aggregation by chemotherapy." Rationale: This statement is not accurate.

Chemotherapy primarily affects platelet production and can lead to a decrease in platelet count.

It does not typically inhibit platelet aggregation.