Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 85%
Simulated
To prevent deep vein thromboses following knee replacement surgery, an adult male client is receiving daily subcutaneous enoxaparin. Which laboratory result requires immediate action by the nurse? Reference Range: Hematocrit [42% to 52% (0.42 to 0.52 volume fraction)] Platelets [150,000 to 400,000/mm² (150 to 400 × 10^9/L)] Creatinine [0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL (44 to 97 μmol/L)] Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) [10 to 20 mg/dL (3.6 to 7.1 mmol/L)]
Correct answer
A
Rationale
A platelet count of 100,000/mm┬│ indicates thrombocytopenia, a potential enoxaparin side effect, increasing bleeding risk. Immediate action (notifying provider, monitoring for bleeding) is needed. Hematocrit, BUN, and creatinine are within normal ranges and do not require urgent intervention.