NUR 120 (Med/Surg - Test 3) Study Notes Questions with Correct
Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: What is anemia?
Answer: A deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin.
Question 2: Signs and symptoms of anemia are seen when hemoglobin levels are below what?
Answer: 8 g/dL
Question 3: What are some things in the body that are affected by anemia due to the lack of oxygen in
the blood?
Answer: 1. Tissues 2. Cells 3. Organs
Question 4: What are erythrocytes?
Answer: Red blood cells (RBCs)
Question 5: The formation of erythrocytes depend on what factors?
Answer: 1. Healthy bone marrow 2. Dietary substances (Iron/Copper) 3. Essential amino acids 4. Certain
vitamins (B12, folic acid, B2, and B6)
Question 6: What all information does CBC labs tell us?
Answer: 1. RBC levels 2. WBC levels 3. Hematocrit levels 4. Hemoglobin levels 5. Erythrocyte indexes 6.
Differential white cell count
Question 7: What are the normal hemoglobin levels?
Answer: 12 to 18 g/dL
Question 8: What are the normal hematocrit levels for adults?
Answer: 35 to 54%
Question 9: What does the Schilling test measure?
Answer: Absorption of radioactive B12 in the body
Page 1
,Question 10: The Schilling test is usually used to diagnose which type of anemia?
Answer: Pernicious anemia
Question 11: Where is a bone marrow biopsy usually performed at?
Answer: Posterior iliac crest
Question 12: T/F: Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder usually caused by an inherited trait
Answer: TRUE
Question 13: In order for a patient to have sickle cell anemia the patient must have what trait passed
from both parents?
Answer: S trait
Question 14: How is sickle cell anemia usually diagnosed?
Answer: 1. Newborn screening 2. Dithionite test
Question 15: What does the dithionite test show?
Answer: If the hemoglobin S is present in the blood
Question 16: What race is the biggest carrier of the sickle cell trait?
Answer: African Americans
Question 17: What is the lifespan of the RBCs in a patient with sickle cell anemia?
Answer: 20 days
Question 18: Sickle cell anemia causes the RBCs to clump together and form an abnormal shape, which
causes what to happen in the body?
Answer: RBCs are not able to flow through the blood vessels causing poor oxygenation of vital organs and
tissues
Question 19: What type of test is used to test the different types of hemoglobin in the bloodstream and
can be used to detect sickle cell anemia?
Answer: Hemoglobin Electrophoresis
Page 2
,Question 20: What are some signs/symptoms/manifestations of sickle cell anemia?
Answer: 1. Abnormal RBC levels 2. Decrease flow of oxygen to tissues 3. RBC clumping 3. Infarations
(Stroke/Heart attack) 4. Pain 5. Swelling 6. Joint pain 7. Jaundice 8. Increased risk for infections 9. Leg
ulcers 10. Increased respiratory infections
Question 21: What are some ways that sickle cell anemia is treated in the hospital?
Answer: 1. Pain medications (opioids) around the clock 2. Prevention/Treatment of infections 3. Warm
compresses for joint pain 4. Blood transfusions 5. Folic acid given on regular basis 6. Oxygen if needed
Question 22: T/F: Any sensitivities that cause low oxygen to occur can lead to sickle cell anemia crisis in
a patient with sickle cell anemia
Answer: TRUE
Question 23: Why is folic acid given to a patient with sickle cell anemia?
Answer: It helps with the production of RBCs in the body
Question 24: It is important to monitor what during a sickle cell anemia crisis?
Answer: 1. Vital signs 2. Respiratory status (O2 stats)
Question 25: The drug epoetin alfa (Procrit) helps stimulate what?
Answer: The production of hemoglobin and hematocrit
Question 26: What causes hypovolemic anemia?
Answer: Acute or chronic blood loss
Question 27: What are some signs/symptoms of hypovolemic anemia?
Answer: 1. Restlessness 2. Decrease in BP 3. Increase in HR 4. Decrease in urine output 5. Dyspnea 6.
Weakness 7. Stupor (altered consciousness) 8. Irritability 9. Pale, cool, moist skin
Question 28: What is important when treating a patient for hypovolemic anemia?
Answer: 1. Controlling bleeding 2. Monitoring I's & O's 3. Giving IV fluids 4. Monitoring labs 5.
Monitoring vital signs 6. Giving blood transfusions Monitoring hemodynamic status
Question 29: If hypovolemic anemia is left untreated it can lead to what?
Answer: Hypovolemic shock
Page 3
, Question 30: Hypovolemic shock is caused by what?
Answer: A decrease in circulating fluid in the body
Question 31: What signs/symptoms are seen with hypovolemic shock?
Answer: 1. Irritability/Restlessness 2. Stupor 3. Weakness 4. Cool/Clammy skin 5. Diaphoresis (Sweating)
6. Decreased BP 7. Increased HR 8. Decreased urine output 9. Decreased temperature 10. Thirst
Question 32: What is done to treat hypovolemic shock?
Answer: 1. Give oxygen (O2) 2. Blood transfusions 3. Lactated Ringer's given 4. Keep patient warm
Question 33: What two functions are important to monitor with a patient experiencing hypovolemic
shock?
Answer: 1. Cardiac functions 2. Respiratory functions
Question 34: Pernicious anemia is caused by an impaired absorption of what vitamin in the small
intestine?
Answer: B12
Question 35: The lack of what protein causes the malabsorption of B12 in the small intestine in a
patient who has pernicious anemia?
Answer: Intrinsic factor
Question 36: Vitamin B12 is needed to make what?
Answer: Red blood cells (RBCs)
Question 37: Without vitamin B12 and intrinsic factor, bone marrow causes what to happen to the
RBCs?
Answer: RBCs are made too large which eventually causes them to stop making RBCs
Question 38: T/F: The body makes its own vitamin B12
Answer: FALSE **Body does NOT make vitamin B12
Question 39: Where do we get our vitamin B12 from?
Answer: Food that is consumed by the body
Page 4
Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: What is anemia?
Answer: A deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin.
Question 2: Signs and symptoms of anemia are seen when hemoglobin levels are below what?
Answer: 8 g/dL
Question 3: What are some things in the body that are affected by anemia due to the lack of oxygen in
the blood?
Answer: 1. Tissues 2. Cells 3. Organs
Question 4: What are erythrocytes?
Answer: Red blood cells (RBCs)
Question 5: The formation of erythrocytes depend on what factors?
Answer: 1. Healthy bone marrow 2. Dietary substances (Iron/Copper) 3. Essential amino acids 4. Certain
vitamins (B12, folic acid, B2, and B6)
Question 6: What all information does CBC labs tell us?
Answer: 1. RBC levels 2. WBC levels 3. Hematocrit levels 4. Hemoglobin levels 5. Erythrocyte indexes 6.
Differential white cell count
Question 7: What are the normal hemoglobin levels?
Answer: 12 to 18 g/dL
Question 8: What are the normal hematocrit levels for adults?
Answer: 35 to 54%
Question 9: What does the Schilling test measure?
Answer: Absorption of radioactive B12 in the body
Page 1
,Question 10: The Schilling test is usually used to diagnose which type of anemia?
Answer: Pernicious anemia
Question 11: Where is a bone marrow biopsy usually performed at?
Answer: Posterior iliac crest
Question 12: T/F: Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder usually caused by an inherited trait
Answer: TRUE
Question 13: In order for a patient to have sickle cell anemia the patient must have what trait passed
from both parents?
Answer: S trait
Question 14: How is sickle cell anemia usually diagnosed?
Answer: 1. Newborn screening 2. Dithionite test
Question 15: What does the dithionite test show?
Answer: If the hemoglobin S is present in the blood
Question 16: What race is the biggest carrier of the sickle cell trait?
Answer: African Americans
Question 17: What is the lifespan of the RBCs in a patient with sickle cell anemia?
Answer: 20 days
Question 18: Sickle cell anemia causes the RBCs to clump together and form an abnormal shape, which
causes what to happen in the body?
Answer: RBCs are not able to flow through the blood vessels causing poor oxygenation of vital organs and
tissues
Question 19: What type of test is used to test the different types of hemoglobin in the bloodstream and
can be used to detect sickle cell anemia?
Answer: Hemoglobin Electrophoresis
Page 2
,Question 20: What are some signs/symptoms/manifestations of sickle cell anemia?
Answer: 1. Abnormal RBC levels 2. Decrease flow of oxygen to tissues 3. RBC clumping 3. Infarations
(Stroke/Heart attack) 4. Pain 5. Swelling 6. Joint pain 7. Jaundice 8. Increased risk for infections 9. Leg
ulcers 10. Increased respiratory infections
Question 21: What are some ways that sickle cell anemia is treated in the hospital?
Answer: 1. Pain medications (opioids) around the clock 2. Prevention/Treatment of infections 3. Warm
compresses for joint pain 4. Blood transfusions 5. Folic acid given on regular basis 6. Oxygen if needed
Question 22: T/F: Any sensitivities that cause low oxygen to occur can lead to sickle cell anemia crisis in
a patient with sickle cell anemia
Answer: TRUE
Question 23: Why is folic acid given to a patient with sickle cell anemia?
Answer: It helps with the production of RBCs in the body
Question 24: It is important to monitor what during a sickle cell anemia crisis?
Answer: 1. Vital signs 2. Respiratory status (O2 stats)
Question 25: The drug epoetin alfa (Procrit) helps stimulate what?
Answer: The production of hemoglobin and hematocrit
Question 26: What causes hypovolemic anemia?
Answer: Acute or chronic blood loss
Question 27: What are some signs/symptoms of hypovolemic anemia?
Answer: 1. Restlessness 2. Decrease in BP 3. Increase in HR 4. Decrease in urine output 5. Dyspnea 6.
Weakness 7. Stupor (altered consciousness) 8. Irritability 9. Pale, cool, moist skin
Question 28: What is important when treating a patient for hypovolemic anemia?
Answer: 1. Controlling bleeding 2. Monitoring I's & O's 3. Giving IV fluids 4. Monitoring labs 5.
Monitoring vital signs 6. Giving blood transfusions Monitoring hemodynamic status
Question 29: If hypovolemic anemia is left untreated it can lead to what?
Answer: Hypovolemic shock
Page 3
, Question 30: Hypovolemic shock is caused by what?
Answer: A decrease in circulating fluid in the body
Question 31: What signs/symptoms are seen with hypovolemic shock?
Answer: 1. Irritability/Restlessness 2. Stupor 3. Weakness 4. Cool/Clammy skin 5. Diaphoresis (Sweating)
6. Decreased BP 7. Increased HR 8. Decreased urine output 9. Decreased temperature 10. Thirst
Question 32: What is done to treat hypovolemic shock?
Answer: 1. Give oxygen (O2) 2. Blood transfusions 3. Lactated Ringer's given 4. Keep patient warm
Question 33: What two functions are important to monitor with a patient experiencing hypovolemic
shock?
Answer: 1. Cardiac functions 2. Respiratory functions
Question 34: Pernicious anemia is caused by an impaired absorption of what vitamin in the small
intestine?
Answer: B12
Question 35: The lack of what protein causes the malabsorption of B12 in the small intestine in a
patient who has pernicious anemia?
Answer: Intrinsic factor
Question 36: Vitamin B12 is needed to make what?
Answer: Red blood cells (RBCs)
Question 37: Without vitamin B12 and intrinsic factor, bone marrow causes what to happen to the
RBCs?
Answer: RBCs are made too large which eventually causes them to stop making RBCs
Question 38: T/F: The body makes its own vitamin B12
Answer: FALSE **Body does NOT make vitamin B12
Question 39: Where do we get our vitamin B12 from?
Answer: Food that is consumed by the body
Page 4
