Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 71%
Simulated
A nurse is reviewing the complete blood count results for a 4-year-old child who is receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the treatment is having a therapeutic effect?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
The correct answer is B: WBC count 15,000/mm3 (5,000 to 10,000/mm3). In acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the goal of treatment is to reduce the abnormal white blood cell count. A decrease in the WBC count indicates a therapeutic effect. Platelet count (choice A) may vary due to treatment but is not a direct indicator of therapeutic effect. RBC count (choice C) and hemoglobin (choice D) are indicators of anemia common in leukemia but not specific to treatment effectiveness.