The nurse is assessing a client who is a strict vegetarian. What type of anemia is the nurse aware that this client is at risk for?
Megaloblastic anemia
Sickle cell anemia
Iron deficiency anemia
Aplastic anemia
The Correct Answer is A
Reasoning:
Choice A reason: Strict vegetarians are at risk for megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency, as B12 is primarily found in animal products. B12 deficiency impairs DNA synthesis, causing macrocytic anemia and symptoms like fatigue and neurological issues, a significant concern in vegan diets without supplementation.
Choice B reason: Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disorder caused by a hemoglobin S mutation, not dietary factors like vegetarianism. It leads to hemolytic anemia and vaso-occlusive crises, unrelated to nutritional deficiencies, making it an unlikely risk for a vegetarian client without genetic predisposition.
Choice C reason: Iron deficiency anemia is possible in vegetarians due to lower bioavailability of non-heme iron from plant sources, but B12 deficiency is a more specific risk in strict vegetarians, as animal products are the primary B12 source. Iron supplements or fortified foods can mitigate this risk.
Choice D reason: Aplastic anemia results from bone marrow failure, not dietary deficiencies. It causes pancytopenia and is unrelated to vegetarianism, which primarily risks nutritional anemias like B12 or iron deficiency. The client’s diet suggests a nutrient-specific issue, not bone marrow suppression.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Reasoning:
Choice A reason: The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) provides a standardized score for consciousness, not an in-depth neurological assessment. It evaluates eye, verbal, and motor responses but does not detail specific neurological deficits like cranial nerve function, requiring additional tests for a comprehensive neurological evaluation.
Choice B reason: The GCS does not assess knowledge of preceding events, which relates to memory or orientation, not consciousness. Amnesia or cognitive deficits are evaluated separately. The GCS focuses on immediate responses to stimuli, providing a snapshot of consciousness, not historical knowledge.
Choice C reason: The GCS assesses the client’s current level of consciousness by scoring eye opening, verbal response, and motor response. Trending scores over time indicates changes in consciousness, reflecting neurological status in conditions like head injury, guiding interventions and prognosis in critical care settings.
Choice D reason: The GCS does not measure the “lowest” verbal and physical response but the best response to stimuli at the time of assessment. It quantifies consciousness, not minimal function. Scores reflect current neurological status, not the worst possible responses, making this inaccurate.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Reasoning:
Choice A reason: Elimination of iron by the body is not a typical cause of anemia in older adults. Iron is tightly regulated, and excessive loss occurs through bleeding, not spontaneous elimination. Anemia in the elderly is more commonly due to chronic blood loss or impaired absorption, not iron excretion.
Choice B reason: Excessive coffee or tea consumption can inhibit iron absorption due to tannins binding dietary iron, but it is not a primary cause of anemia in older adults. Blood loss or chronic disease are more common culprits, making dietary inhibition a less likely contributor in this population.
Choice C reason: Blood loss from the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract is a common cause of anemia in older adults. Chronic bleeding from ulcers, colon cancer, or urinary tract issues depletes iron stores, leading to iron deficiency anemia, a frequent finding in the elderly due to higher prevalence of these conditions.
Choice D reason: A decrease in total body iron stores with age is not a primary cause of anemia. While absorption may decline slightly, blood loss from gastrointestinal or genitourinary sources is a more significant contributor in older adults, as it directly reduces iron available for hemoglobin synthesis.
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