Answer to Question 1
ANS: B
The nurse's immediate action should be to monitor the patient for thrombocytopenia by checking a platelet count.
Advising the patient that this is a normal response does not address the patient's concerns and the nurse should monitor a platelet count.
The patient may need to reduce warfarin dosages rather than skip the next round of chemotherapy.
Administration of Epogen is indicated for anemia.
Answer to Question 2
ANS: D
Neutrophil counts must be monitored. Normal counts range from 2500 to 7000 cells/mm3. If neutropenia is substantial (ie, an absolute neutrophil count below 500/mm3), chemotherapy should be withheld until the neutrophil count returns toward normal.
The next dose should not be skipped unless the neutrophil count is below 500/mm3.
The chemotherapy should not be discontinued, because the low neutrophil level is not considered substantial yet.
There is a risk for infection, but hospitalization is not indicated. The patient is safer in the home environment.
Patient Teaching Methods Cont.
Taking a Wound Culture
Grief Responses and Patient Verbalization
Amyloid plaques (stained blue) in the brain of a deceased patient who had Alzheimer’s disease.
After multiple injections of a local anesthetic, the patient developed herpetic lesions.