Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 74%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
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: RBC count 5/mm┬│ (4 to 5.5/mm┬│). A therapeutic effect in this case would be an improvement in the red blood cell count, indicating better oxygen-carrying capacity. Having a value within the normal range (4 to 5.5/mm┬│) is a positive sign of treatment efficacy.
Incorrect answers:
A: Hemoglobin 6.8 g/dL is low and indicates anemia, not a therapeutic effect.
C: WBC count of 15,000/mm┬│ is high, indicating infection or inflammation, not a therapeutic effect.
D: Platelet count of 98,000/mm┬│ is low and could indicate a clotting disorder, not a therapeutic effect.
Incorrect answers:
A: Hemoglobin 6.8 g/dL is low and indicates anemia, not a therapeutic effect.
C: WBC count of 15,000/mm┬│ is high, indicating infection or inflammation, not a therapeutic effect.
D: Platelet count of 98,000/mm┬│ is low and could indicate a clotting disorder, not a therapeutic effect.