Help With Labs!!!

[Nursetob2005]

Help! I need help with my pt's lab for a care plan. He has had a low H&H, low RBC Count. He is not anemic according to Dr. Diagnosis. He is on Lovenox, but I got dinged before when I put that as a reason. What else could be causing this?

[klone, MSN, RN]

GI bleed?

Peptic ulcer?

Crohn's Disease?

Diverticulitis?

[MIA-RN1, RN]

Help! I need help with my pt's lab for a care plan. He has had a low H&H, low RBC Count. He is not anemic according to Dr. Diagnosis. He is on Lovenox, but I got dinged before when I put that as a reason. What else could be causing this?

How are his platelets and whites? Does he have increased blood volume from something, to make it look like he is anemic when he really isn't?

[NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN]

Do they suspect CA? Has he had any recent major surgery?

[truern]

Nurse2be, here's a great online resource for labs:

http://labtestsonline.org/

I'm thinking along the lines of some fluid volume overload that's diluting the blood, too. You know like when someone's dehydrated and it looks like their H/H is elevated when it's really not??

Why is he on Lovenox?? What IS his diagnosis??

[klone, MSN, RN]

Nurse2be, here's a great online resource for labs:

http://labtestsonline.org/

I'm thinking along the lines of some fluid volume overload that's diluting the blood, too. You know like when someone's dehydrated and it looks like their H/H is elevated when it's really not??

Why is he on Lovenox?? What IS his diagnosis??

Good idea - do you know his urine specific gravity?

[onduty23]

Nurse2be, here's a great online resource for labs:

http://labtestsonline.org/

I'm thinking along the lines of some fluid volume overload that's diluting the blood, too. You know like when someone's dehydrated and it looks like their H/H is elevated when it's really not??

Why is he on Lovenox?? What IS his diagnosis??

thanks very helpful site

[ICRN2008, BSN, RN]

If a patient has a low red cell count, he or she has anemia. The physician might have meant that the patient does not have iron deficiency anemia, the most common type?

Do you know the mcv, mch and mchc?

What are his WBC and plt? Could he have bone marrow suppression due to steroids or other drugs?

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Looks like everyone has covered bases here...just wanted to tell you that the site is cool..I bookmarked it for future reference...