Fluids/Electrolytes I am doomed!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2008

i realize that nobody cares what the wbc is but apparently my instructor thinks it's important. the only two answers that could have been correct included multiple symptoms: decreased bp, pain, decreased h&h. then, one included increased wbc and the other included decreased wbc.

these people are hemorrhaging internally. the blood has spilled out of their circulatory system at the rupture in the aa (abdominal aorta) and is trapped in their abdominal cavity. their b/p drops because the circulatory system is emptying out of blood and is losing its volume. their h&h will be decreased which reflects the blood loss and they usually have excruciating pain.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2008

more info about wbcs:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=neutrophils&rid=mboc4.section.4139#4141

"most white blood cells function in tissues other than the blood;

blood simply transports them to where they are needed

. a local infection or injury in any tissue rapidly attracts white blood cells into the affected region as part of the inflammatory response, which helps fight the infection or heal the wound."

DMBFAN4EVR · Dec 11, 2008

Thank you so much! I got the answer to the exam question too. It is increased WBC, d/t the inflammation. But thank you for providing me with the good solid information that I wasn't finding. Or maybe I was to busy questioning everything. lol