Question

A nurse is planning care for a client who has leukemia and a platelet count of 48,000/mm3. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?

Option 1: Encourage activities that may cause bleeding
Option 2: Administer aspirin for pain relief
Option 3: Encourage a diet high in vitamin K
Option 4: Use a firm toothbrush for oral care

Answer 1

For a client with leukemia and a platelet count of 48,000/mm3, the nurse should encourage a diet high in vitamin K to help with blood clotting due to their low platelet count, which poses an increased risk of bleeding.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse planning care for a client with leukemia and a low platelet count of 48,000/mm3 should include interventions to prevent bleeding due to the increased risk associated with thrombocytopenia. Therefore, options encouraging activities that may cause bleeding or administering aspirin for pain relief are not appropriate as they may exacerbate the risk of bleeding. Instead, it's essential to choose interventions that promote clotting and protect the integrity of the vessels. The correct intervention to include in the client's care plan would be:

Option 3: Encourage a diet high in vitamin K. Vitamin K is essential for the synthesis of certain coagulation factors that are critical to the blood clotting process. Encouraging a diet high in vitamin K can help support the body's ability to form clots and manage bleeding risks.