Question

A client with megaloblastic anemia who takes folate 1 mg by mouth daily reports to the nurse of feeling increasingly fatigued. Which laboratory value should the nurse review?

Answer 1

The nurse should check the patient's mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and hemoglobin level to evaluate the effectiveness of folate supplementation and identify if further treatment is needed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should review the patient's mean corpuscular volume (MCV) as it measures the size of the red blood cells and is indicative of megaloblastic anemia when the cells are larger than normal (macrocytic). Anemia can cause fatigue due to reduced oxygen delivery to body tissues from an inadequate volume of red blood cells. Another important test is the hemoglobin level, which can also provide insight into the severity of the anemia. If the patient is taking folate but continues to feel increasingly fatigued, it could indicate that their anemia has not resolved, possibly due to a persistent vitamin B12 deficiency or other underlying issue.