Hematology – Pathophysiology Questions with
Correct Answers
A nurse is discussing a granulocyte. Which type of cell is the nurse describing? - Correct Answer
Neutrophil (Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils are types of granulocytes)
A patient has a decreased number of leukocytes. Which term will the nurse use to describe this
finding? - Correct Answer Leukopenia (Leukopenia is present when the count is lower than normal)
A nurse wants to talk about the most common granulocyte cell. Which type of cells will the nurse
describe? - Correct Answer Neutrophils (Neutrophilia is another term that may be used to describe
granulocytosis because neutrophils are the most numerous of the granulocytes)
A patient has a shift to the left or left shift. What other term can the nurse use to describe this
finding? - Correct Answer Leukemoid reaction (Premature release of the immature cells is
responsible for the phenomenon known as a shift to the left or leukemoid reaction)
A patient has rheumatoid arthritis and the neutrophils are being sequestered in the spleen. Which
diagnosis will the nurse observe documented on the chart? - Correct Answer Felty syndrome
(Abnormal neutrophil distribution and sequestration are associated with hypersplenism and a
pseudoneutropenia, which in the presence of rheumatoid arthritis constitute Felty syndrome.)
A patient has monocytopenia. Which history data is significant for the monocytopenia? - Correct
Answer Uses prednisone/glucocorticoid therapy (Monocytopenia, a decrease in monocytes, is rare
but has been identified with hairy cell leukemia and prednisone/glucocorticoid therapy)
A patient has an infection with the Epstein Barr virus. Which lab result will be elevated? - Correct
Answer Lymphocytes (Lymphocytosis is rare in acute bacterial infections and is seen most commonly
in acute viral infections, particularly those caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a causative agent in
infectious mononucleosis)
Which information should the nurse include when discussing the pathophysiology of infectious
mononucleosis? - Correct Answer An infection of B lymphocytes caused by the Epstein-Barr virus
(Infectious mononucleosis is an infection of B lymphocytes caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).)
A patient has chronic leukemia. Which cell is most affected? - Correct Answer Mature cells (In chronic
leukemia, the predominant cell is more mature but does not function normally)
, Which information should the nurse include when describing the pathophysiology of chronic
myelogenous leukemia (CML)? - Correct Answer A specific chromosomal translocation called the
Philadelphia chromosome (CML is more common in middle-aged to older adults and is frequently
associated with a specific chromosomal translocation, called the Philadelphia chromosome.)
Which staging classification system can the nurse use to help classify the stage of Hodgkin disease? -
Correct Answer Cotswold (Hodgkin disease is further classified by its clinical stage, called the
Cotswold Stage.)
A patient has recently been diagnosed with Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL). Which initial assessment
is typical of this disease? - Correct Answer Painless swollen lymph nodes in the neck (The first sign of
LL is usually a painless lymphadenopathy in the neck.)
A patient has heparin induced thrombocytopenia. Which treatment should the nurse implement? -
Correct Answer Stop the heparin (Treatment is the withdrawal of heparin and use of alternative
anticoagulants.)
A child is admitted with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Which history data is
significant for ITP? - Correct Answer Recently had a viral infection (Acute ITP is usually secondary to
infections (particularly viral).)
A patient is admitted to the Emergency department with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
(TTP). Which principle should guide nursing care? - Correct Answer This is a life-threatening
multisystem disorder (Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening multisystem
disorder.)
Which information is important for the nurse to remember about essential thrombocythemia? Along
with increased platelets, there may also be an increase in: - Correct Answer red blood cells. (Along
with increased platelets, there may be a concomitant increase in the number of red cells.)
A patient has a vitamin K deficiency. Which assessment is priority? Monitoring for: - Correct Answer
hemorrhage. (Most individuals with a vitamin K deficiency will experience easy bruising and
excessive bleeding.)
Which patient should the nurse assess first for bleeding problems? A patient with: - Correct Answer
liver disease. (Patients with liver disease and a vitamin K deficiency are prone to bleeding.)
Correct Answers
A nurse is discussing a granulocyte. Which type of cell is the nurse describing? - Correct Answer
Neutrophil (Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils are types of granulocytes)
A patient has a decreased number of leukocytes. Which term will the nurse use to describe this
finding? - Correct Answer Leukopenia (Leukopenia is present when the count is lower than normal)
A nurse wants to talk about the most common granulocyte cell. Which type of cells will the nurse
describe? - Correct Answer Neutrophils (Neutrophilia is another term that may be used to describe
granulocytosis because neutrophils are the most numerous of the granulocytes)
A patient has a shift to the left or left shift. What other term can the nurse use to describe this
finding? - Correct Answer Leukemoid reaction (Premature release of the immature cells is
responsible for the phenomenon known as a shift to the left or leukemoid reaction)
A patient has rheumatoid arthritis and the neutrophils are being sequestered in the spleen. Which
diagnosis will the nurse observe documented on the chart? - Correct Answer Felty syndrome
(Abnormal neutrophil distribution and sequestration are associated with hypersplenism and a
pseudoneutropenia, which in the presence of rheumatoid arthritis constitute Felty syndrome.)
A patient has monocytopenia. Which history data is significant for the monocytopenia? - Correct
Answer Uses prednisone/glucocorticoid therapy (Monocytopenia, a decrease in monocytes, is rare
but has been identified with hairy cell leukemia and prednisone/glucocorticoid therapy)
A patient has an infection with the Epstein Barr virus. Which lab result will be elevated? - Correct
Answer Lymphocytes (Lymphocytosis is rare in acute bacterial infections and is seen most commonly
in acute viral infections, particularly those caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a causative agent in
infectious mononucleosis)
Which information should the nurse include when discussing the pathophysiology of infectious
mononucleosis? - Correct Answer An infection of B lymphocytes caused by the Epstein-Barr virus
(Infectious mononucleosis is an infection of B lymphocytes caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).)
A patient has chronic leukemia. Which cell is most affected? - Correct Answer Mature cells (In chronic
leukemia, the predominant cell is more mature but does not function normally)
, Which information should the nurse include when describing the pathophysiology of chronic
myelogenous leukemia (CML)? - Correct Answer A specific chromosomal translocation called the
Philadelphia chromosome (CML is more common in middle-aged to older adults and is frequently
associated with a specific chromosomal translocation, called the Philadelphia chromosome.)
Which staging classification system can the nurse use to help classify the stage of Hodgkin disease? -
Correct Answer Cotswold (Hodgkin disease is further classified by its clinical stage, called the
Cotswold Stage.)
A patient has recently been diagnosed with Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL). Which initial assessment
is typical of this disease? - Correct Answer Painless swollen lymph nodes in the neck (The first sign of
LL is usually a painless lymphadenopathy in the neck.)
A patient has heparin induced thrombocytopenia. Which treatment should the nurse implement? -
Correct Answer Stop the heparin (Treatment is the withdrawal of heparin and use of alternative
anticoagulants.)
A child is admitted with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Which history data is
significant for ITP? - Correct Answer Recently had a viral infection (Acute ITP is usually secondary to
infections (particularly viral).)
A patient is admitted to the Emergency department with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
(TTP). Which principle should guide nursing care? - Correct Answer This is a life-threatening
multisystem disorder (Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening multisystem
disorder.)
Which information is important for the nurse to remember about essential thrombocythemia? Along
with increased platelets, there may also be an increase in: - Correct Answer red blood cells. (Along
with increased platelets, there may be a concomitant increase in the number of red cells.)
A patient has a vitamin K deficiency. Which assessment is priority? Monitoring for: - Correct Answer
hemorrhage. (Most individuals with a vitamin K deficiency will experience easy bruising and
excessive bleeding.)
Which patient should the nurse assess first for bleeding problems? A patient with: - Correct Answer
liver disease. (Patients with liver disease and a vitamin K deficiency are prone to bleeding.)
