Question

A nurse in a clinic is caring for a client who has suspected anemia. Which of the following lab test results should the nurse expect?

A. Iron 90mcg/dL
B. RBC 6.5 million uL
C. WBC 4,800 mm3
D. Hgb 10 g/dL

Answer 1

A nurse caring for a patient with suspected anemia might expect laboratory test results indicating low hemoglobin levels; in this case, Hgb 10 g/dL signifies anemia as it is below the normal adult range. The correct option is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse in a clinic caring for a client with suspected anemia might expect to find certain laboratory test results that indicate the condition. Anemia is often characterized by a reduction in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) or the amount of hemoglobin, which is responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Therefore, of the given choices, the test result indicative of anemia would be Hgb (hemoglobin) 10 g/dL.

Considering the hemoglobin content of the blood during iron deficiency anemia is typically 5 to 9 g/100 ml, a hemoglobin level of 10 g/dL (which is the same as 10 g/100 ml) is below the normal range for adults, which is generally around 12 to 17 g/dL for women and 13 to 18 g/dL for men. The other test results: Iron 90mcg/dL, RBC 6.5 million uL, and WBC 4,800 mm3, are within normal ranges and would not necessarily indicate anemia on their own.