Question

The nurse teaches a class on iron-deficiency anemia to a group of pregnant clients who are all taking ferrous sulfate (Feosol). The nurse evaluates that additional learning is needed when the clients make which statement?

1. "Most iron in our bodies is stored on hemoglobin in the red blood cell."
2. "Transferrin is a protein that transports iron to places in our bodies where it is needed."
3. "We need extra iron because when our red blood cells die, all their iron is excreted from the body."
4. "The most common cause of nutritional anemia is iron deficiency."

Answer 1

The incorrect statement made by the clients is that all iron is excreted from the body when red blood cells die. Iron is recycled in the body, transported by transferrin, and stored in the form of ferritin and hemosiderin, primarily in the liver and spleen.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement indicating the need for additional learning in a class on iron-deficiency anemia in pregnant clients taking ferrous sulfate (Feosol) is: "We need extra iron because when our red blood cells die, all their iron is excreted from the body." This statement is incorrect because iron is not simply excreted; it is recycled. The iron contained within red blood cells is indeed mostly stored in hemoglobin, and upon the death of these cells, the iron is recovered and reused. Transferrin is responsible for transporting this iron back to the bone marrow to be incorporated into new red blood cells, while excess iron can be stored in forms such as ferritin and hemosiderin, mainly in the liver and spleen.

The most common cause of nutritional anemia is indeed iron deficiency, suggesting that the clients understand this concept. However, they need to be corrected about the recycling process of iron within the body, which is a crucial aspect of iron metabolism. This ensures the efficient use of the body's iron resources and minimizes waste.