A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is at 37 weeks of gestation and has HELLP syndrome. Which of the following laboratory findings should the nurse expect?
BUN 20 mg/dL
Platelet count 77,000/mm3
Hemoglobin 12 g/dL
WBC count 18,000/mm3
The Correct Answer is B
A. BUN 20 mg/dL: This is not specific to HELLP syndrome. A BUN level of 20 mg/dL is within the normal range and does not indicate the presence of HELLP syndrome, which is associated with liver dysfunction and low platelet count.
B. Platelet count 77,000/mm3: This is correct. HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets) is characterized by a low platelet count, often less than 100,000/mm3, which is a critical indicator of this condition.
C. Hemoglobin 12 g/dL: This is a normal hemoglobin level and is not typically associated with HELLP syndrome, where hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) can cause anemia, which would lower hemoglobin levels.
D. WBC count 18,000/mm3: While an elevated WBC count can indicate infection or inflammation, it is not specifically associated with HELLP syndrome. The hallmark features of HELLP syndrome are low platelets and liver enzyme elevation, not elevated WBC.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. “This medication will darken the color of my eyes.” is incorrect. Timolol is a nonselective beta-blocker used to reduce intraocular pressure in glaucoma. It does not typically cause eye color changes.
B. "I should check my heart rate while taking this medication." is correct. Timolol can cause systemic side effects such as bradycardia, so the client should monitor their heart rate while taking the medication.
C. "I should take a zinc supplement while taking this medication." is incorrect. Zinc supplementation is not related to the use of timolol.
D. “This medication will dilate my eyes." is incorrect. Timolol works by decreasing aqueous humor production, reducing intraocular pressure, and does not cause dilation of the eyes. Medications like atropine are used for pupil dilation.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Documenting in the nursing care plan is incorrect. The nursing care plan outlines interventions and client needs, but it is not used for documenting medication errors.
B. Recording in the controlled substance inventory record is incorrect. While the administration of a controlled substance must be recorded, the inventory record tracks medication usage and does not serve as documentation for errors.
C. Completing an incident report is correct. An incident report is used to document medication errors, allowing for review and quality improvement measures to prevent future occurrences.
D. Writing in the provider's progress notes is incorrect. The provider's progress notes focus on client status and treatment plans, not internal error reporting. However, the nurse should notify the provider about the error.
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