A 32-year-old female is admitted to the hospital with fatigue and shortness of breath. Her CBC reveals a hemoglobin level of 8 g/dL (normal range: 12-16 g/dL). What does this finding indicate?
Options: a) Elevated hemoglobin b) Normal hemoglobin c) Low hemoglobin d) High platelet count e) Increased white blood cell count
Correct Answer: c) Low hemoglobin
Rationale: A hemoglobin level of 8 g/dL is below the normal range, indicating anemia. Anemia can result in fatigue and shortness of breath due to decreased oxygen-carrying capacity. Elevated hemoglobin (option a) is not consistent with the presented result. High platelet count (option d) and increased white blood cell count (option e) are not reflective of the issue presented in the vignette.
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NCLEX Questions Critical Thinking: Complete Blood Count Symptoms
A 45-year-old male with a history of chronic renal failure is undergoing a CBC. Which parameter is most likely to be affected in this patient?
Options: a) Hemoglobin b) Platelet count c) Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) d) White blood cell count e) Red blood cell distribution width (RDW)
Correct Answer: c) Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
Rationale: Chronic renal failure often leads to anemia, affecting the size of red blood cells. MCV measures the average volume of red blood cells, and a decrease is indicative of microcytic anemia commonly associated with chronic renal failure. Hemoglobin (option a), platelet count (option b), white blood cell count (option d), and RDW (option e) may not be as directly affected in this scenario.
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A 28-year-old pregnant woman is scheduled for a CBC. What alteration is expected in her blood parameters during pregnancy?
Options: a) Decreased hemoglobin b) Increased platelet count c) Decreased white blood cell count d) Elevated red blood cell count e) Lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
Correct Answer: d) Elevated red blood cell count
Rationale: During pregnancy, there is a physiological increase in red blood cell production to meet the increased oxygen demand. This leads to an elevated red blood cell count. Options a, b, c, and e are not consistent with the expected changes during pregnancy. Understanding normal physiological alterations is crucial for interpreting CBC results in pregnant individuals.
NCLEX Questions Critical Thinking: Complete Blood Count
A 50-year-old male presents with weakness and pallor. His CBC reveals a hemoglobin level of 6 g/dL (normal range: 12-16 g/dL). What type of anemia is the patient likely experiencing?
Options: a) Hemolytic anemia b) Iron-deficiency anemia c) Aplastic anemia d) Pernicious anemia e) Sickle cell anemia
Correct Answer: b) Iron-deficiency anemia
Rationale: The low hemoglobin level of 6 g/dL suggests anemia. Iron-deficiency anemia is characterized by low hemoglobin levels and is often associated with weakness and pallor. Hemolytic anemia (option a), aplastic anemia (option c), pernicious anemia (option d), and sickle cell anemia (option e) have different etiologies and would present with distinct CBC patterns.
NCLEX Review: Complete Blood Count Treatments
A 35-year-old female is admitted with abdominal pain. CBC results show an elevated white blood cell count of 15,000/mm³ (normal range: 4,000-11,000/mm³). What is the likely cause of the increased white blood cell count?
Options: a) Bacterial infection b) Viral infection c) Allergy d) Anemia e) Dehydration
Correct Answer: a) Bacterial infection
Rationale: An elevated white blood cell count is often associated with an inflammatory response, commonly seen in bacterial infections. Options b, c, d, and e are not typically associated with a significant increase in white blood cell count. Understanding the context of elevated white blood cells helps in identifying the likely cause.
A 28-year-old female presents with fatigue and bruising easily. CBC results indicate a prolonged bleeding time and a low platelet count of 80,000/mm³ (normal range: 150,000-450,000/mm³). What is the most likely cause of these findings?
Options: a) Iron-deficiency anemia b) Thrombocytopenia c) Hemolytic anemia d) Leukocytosis e) Polycythemia
Correct Answer: b) Thrombocytopenia
Rationale: The low platelet count and prolonged bleeding time suggest thrombocytopenia, a condition characterized by a decreased number of platelets. Thrombocytopenia can lead to easy bruising and increased bleeding tendencies. Options a, c, d, and e are not consistent with the presented CBC findings, highlighting the importance of connecting specific lab values with potential underlying conditions.
Understanding Complete Blood Count: NCLEX Priority Questions
A 45-year-old male with a history of alcohol abuse is admitted with confusion and jaundice. CBC results show an elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of 110 fL (normal range: 80-100 fL). What is the likely cause of the increased MCV?
Options: a) Iron-deficiency anemia b) Vitamin B12 deficiency c) Folate deficiency d) Hemolytic anemia e) Sickle cell anemia
Correct Answer: c) Folate deficiency
Rationale: An elevated MCV suggests macrocytic anemia, and in the context of alcohol abuse, folate deficiency is a likely cause. Folate deficiency leads to larger red blood cells. Options a, b, d, and e are associated with different types of anemia but may not result in an increased MCV.
Understanding Complete Blood Count: NCLEX Delegation Questions
A 55-year-old male is admitted with chest pain and shortness of breath. CBC results reveal an elevated white blood cell count of 18,000/mm³ (normal range: 4,000-11,000/mm³). What is the likely cause of the increased white blood cell count?
Options: a) Viral infection b) Anxiety c) Myocardial infarction d) Hypothyroidism e) Dehydration
Correct Answer: c) Myocardial infarction
Rationale: An elevated white blood cell count can occur in response to tissue damage, such as in myocardial infarction. Options a, b, d, and e are less likely to cause a significant increase in white blood cell count in this context. Understanding the relationship between CBC results and specific medical conditions is essential for accurate nursing assessments.
Understanding Complete Blood Count: Causes and Symptoms
A 60-year-old female with a history of rheumatoid arthritis is admitted to the hospital. CBC results show an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of 40 mm/h (normal range: 0-20 mm/h). What is the most likely explanation for this finding?
Options: a) Iron-deficiency anemia b) Acute infection c) Chronic inflammation d) Vitamin B12 deficiency e) Polycythemia
Correct Answer: c) Chronic inflammation
Rationale: An elevated ESR is often indicative of chronic inflammation. In rheumatoid arthritis, ongoing inflammation can lead to an increased ESR. Options a, b, d, and e are not directly associated with elevated ESR and highlight the importance of recognizing patterns in lab values within the context of a patient’s medical history.
NCLEX Practice Questions: Understanding Complete Blood Count Causes and Symptoms
A 35-year-old male presents with excessive thirst and frequent urination. CBC results show an elevated glucose level of 200 mg/dL (normal range: 70-100 mg/dL). What does this finding suggest?
Options: a) Anemia b) Diabetes mellitus c) Dehydration d) Hypothyroidism e) Hyperthyroidism
Correct Answer: b) Diabetes mellitus
Rationale: An elevated glucose level is indicative of hyperglycemia, a hallmark of diabetes mellitus. Excessive thirst and frequent urination further support the diagnosis. Options a, c, d, and e do not align with the clinical picture presented, emphasizing the importance of recognizing glucose-related abnormalities.
A 45-year-old female is admitted with fever and chills. CBC results show an increased white blood cell count with a left shift. What is the likely cause of the left shift in this scenario?
Options: a) Viral infection b) Bacterial infection c) Allergy d) Hypothyroidism e) Autoimmune disorder
Correct Answer: b) Bacterial infection
Rationale: A left shift in white blood cells, with an increase in immature forms (bands), is often seen in response to bacterial infections. Options a, c, d, and e are less likely to cause a left shift and emphasize the importance of understanding the nuances in CBC results to identify the underlying cause of a patient’s symptoms.