Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 82%
Simulated
The male client with sickle cell anemia comes to the emergency department with a temperature of 101.4┬░F and tells the nurse that he is having a sickle cell crisis. Which diagnostic test should the nurse anticipate the emergency department doctor ordering for the client?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
Fever (101.4┬░F) in SCA crisis suggests infection; blood cultures (D) identify the cause. Spinal tap (A) is for meningitis, electrophoresis (B) confirms SCA, and Sickledex (C) screens for sickle trait.