A nurse is instructing a patient on how to self-administer heparin. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?

Choice A rationale

Assisting the patient to a left side-lying position with the right knee flexed is often used for rectal examinations or administering enemas, but it does not directly address the issue of a large amount of fecal material in the colon.

Choice B rationale

Preparing the patient for a chest x-ray would not be beneficial in this situation. A chest x-ray would not provide further information about the fecal material in the colon.

Choice C rationale

Administering a cleansing enema can help to remove the fecal material from the colon. This is a common treatment for fecal impaction.

Choice D rationale

Performing a manual digital examination of the patient’s rectum can help to assess the amount of fecal material present, but it would not alleviate the patient’s abdominal pain or remove the fecal material.

The client is at risk for Bleeding as evidenced by the Decrease in Platelet count from 350,000/mm² to 100,000/mm².

Rationale for Bleeding: Platelets are a crucial component of the blood that helps in clotting and preventing excessive bleeding. A decrease in platelet count from 350,000/mm² to 100,000/mm² is significant and puts the client at risk for bleeding. This is because when platelet levels fall below the normal range (150,000 to 400,000/mm²), the body’s ability to form clots and stop bleeding is compromised.

Rationale for Anemia: The client’s Hemoglobin level has decreased from 15 g/dL to 12 g/dL, which is at the lower end of the normal range (12 to 16 g/dL). However, it is still within the normal range, so the client is not currently at risk for anemia.

Rationale for Infections: The client’s White Blood Cell (WBC) count has decreased from 8,000/mm² to 6,000/mm², but it is still within the normal range (5,000 to 10,000/mm²). Therefore, the client is not currently at risk for infections.

Rationale for Cardiac arrhythmias: The client’s Potassium level has slightly decreased from 3.7 mEq/L to 3.6 mEq/L, but it is still within the normal range (3.5 to 5 mEq/L). Therefore, the client is not currently at risk for cardiac arrhythmias.