Practice Question
A nurse is assisting with the care of a client.
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Correct Answer:
WBC count
Rationale:
🔴WBC count: The WBC decreased from 8,000/mm³ to 3,800/mm³, which is below normal, indicating neutropenia and immunosuppression from chemotherapy.
🔴Temperature: A temperature of 38.6° C (101.5° F) in a neutropenic client is a medical emergency because it suggests infection or sepsis in a client who cannot mount a strong immune response.
🔴 Breath sounds: New crackles at the lung bases suggest possible pneumonia, a serious respiratory infection in an immunocompromised client.
🔴 Combination of low WBC + fever + crackles indicates febrile neutropenia with possible lower respiratory infection, requiring immediate cultures and IV antibiotics.
🔴Early intervention in neutropenic fever dramatically reduces morbidity and mortality, so these findings must be prioritized over stable vital signs or normal electrolytes.
Blood pressure
🔴 The blood pressure is 114/56 mm Hg, which is within acceptable limits and does not indicate shock or acute hypotension.
🔴 There is no trend of progressive BP decline, so it is less urgent than signs of infection in an immunosuppressed client.
Potassium level
🔴 The potassium level is 3.6 mEq/L, which is within the normal range of 3.5–5 mEq/L and not immediately life-threatening.
🔴 No cardiac arrhythmias or symptoms are reported, so this is not a priority compared to fever and abnormal lung sounds in a neutropenic patient.
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This question is from PN ATI Capstone Proctored Post-Assessment EXAM 2 which contains 79 questions.
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From Exam
PN ATI Capstone Proctored Post-Assessment EXAM 2
79 Questions
View Full Exam Start PracticingQuestion Details
- Category: LPN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: LPN ATI Exams
- Domain: ♻PN Capstone Exams
- Answer Choices: 7