Question

A 57 year-old male client has a hemoglobin of 10 mg/dl and a hematocrit of 32%. What would be the most appropriate follow-up by the home care nurse?

A) Ask the client if he has noticed any bleeding or dark stools
B) Tell the client to call 911 and go to the emergency department immediately
C) Schedule a repeat Hemoglobin and Hematocrit in 1 month
D) Tell the client to schedule an appointment with a hematologist

Answer 1

The most appropriate follow-up for a patient with low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels is to ask the client if they have noticed any bleeding or dark stools.

Step-by-step explanation:

The hematocrit measures the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume. In this case, the patient's hematocrit is 32%, which means that 32% of their blood volume is made up of red blood cells. Since red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen, a decrease in hemoglobin levels can affect the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. With a hemoglobin level of 10 mg/dl, the home care nurse should ask the client if they have noticed any signs of bleeding or dark stools, as this could indicate internal bleeding or an underlying condition causing the low hemoglobin level. Therefore, the most appropriate follow-up by the home care nurse would be option A) Ask the client if he has noticed any bleeding or dark stools.