🩸 ANEMIAS – HIGH-YIELD NURSING
STUDY GUIDE 🩸
✨ 122 High-Yield Questions & Answers for Nursing Exams ✨
📘 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
Use this Q&A set to master hematology, anemias, RBC labs, coagulation, and clinical
findings. Perfect for Patho, Med-Surg, and NCLEX prep!
🧬 ANEMIAS – QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
• RBC's, Anemias & Platelets
1. What is the primary function of hemoglobin in red blood cells?
• To carry oxygen from the lungs to the body and bring carbon dioxide back to
the lungs.
2. What is the process called by which all blood cells, including RBCs, are created?
• Hematopoiesis.
3. What stimulates the production of new red blood cells?
• Erythropoietin, a hormone secreted by the kidneys.
4. What is the lifespan of a red blood cell?
o 120 days.
,5. What is a reticulocyte?
• The immature form of a red blood cell.
6. What happens to red blood cells after their lifespan ends?
• They are broken down in the spleen.
7. What condition results from a lack of erythro-poietin due to kidney disease?
• Anemia.
8. What is bilirubin and how is it related to red blood cells?
• Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced when RBCs are broken down; it is
processed by the liver.
9. What can a buildup of bilirubin indicate?
• Jaundice.
10. What are the characteristics of normocytic and normochromic red blood cells?
• Normocytic: normal size; Normochromic: normal amount of hemoglobin
11. What does microcytic mean in terms of red blood cell size?
• Smaller than normal.
12. What does hypochromic mean re- grading hemoglobin concentration?
• Lighter in color due to low hemoglobin concentration.
13.What is the average concentration of hemoglobin inside a red blood cell referred
to as?
• MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration).
14. What is the normal range for RBC count in females and males?
• 3.5-5 million cells per microliter for females and 4.2-5.2 million cells per
microliter for males.
15. What is hematocrit?
• The percentage of red blood cells in total blood volume.
16. What does anemia refer to in terms of red blood cells?
, • An abnormally low number of circulating RBCs or low levels of hemoglobin.
17. What are some causes of anemia?
• Excessive blood loss, hemolysis (RBC destruction), nutrient deficiencies
(iron, folic acid), or bone marrow failure.
18. What is the significance of the kidneys in the context of red blood cell
production?
• The kidneys monitor for hypoxia and secrete erythropoietin to stimulate RBC
production when needed.
19. What does the term macrocytic refer to?
• Larger than normal red blood cells.
20. What laboratory test measures the percentage of RBCs in totalblood volume?
• Hematocrit.
21.What is the role of the liver in processing bilirubin?
• The liver filters and metabolizes bilirubin, converting it to a water-soluble
form for excretion.
22. What characterizes anemia?
• Low cell count and more serum.
23.What characterizes polycythemia?
• High cell count and less serum, resulting in thicker blood.
24. What are the stages of hemostasis?
• 1. Vascular spasm, 2. Formation of platelet plug, 3. Blood coagulation, 4. Clot
retraction, 5. Fibrinolysis.
25. What occurs during the vascular spasm stage of hemostasis?
• Smooth muscle contracts, reducing blood flow from the ruptured blood
vessel.
26. Vessel Spasms reduces blood flow from the ruptured blood vessel, smooth
muscle contracts, transient, (time depends on size)
STUDY GUIDE 🩸
✨ 122 High-Yield Questions & Answers for Nursing Exams ✨
📘 HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
Use this Q&A set to master hematology, anemias, RBC labs, coagulation, and clinical
findings. Perfect for Patho, Med-Surg, and NCLEX prep!
🧬 ANEMIAS – QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
• RBC's, Anemias & Platelets
1. What is the primary function of hemoglobin in red blood cells?
• To carry oxygen from the lungs to the body and bring carbon dioxide back to
the lungs.
2. What is the process called by which all blood cells, including RBCs, are created?
• Hematopoiesis.
3. What stimulates the production of new red blood cells?
• Erythropoietin, a hormone secreted by the kidneys.
4. What is the lifespan of a red blood cell?
o 120 days.
,5. What is a reticulocyte?
• The immature form of a red blood cell.
6. What happens to red blood cells after their lifespan ends?
• They are broken down in the spleen.
7. What condition results from a lack of erythro-poietin due to kidney disease?
• Anemia.
8. What is bilirubin and how is it related to red blood cells?
• Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced when RBCs are broken down; it is
processed by the liver.
9. What can a buildup of bilirubin indicate?
• Jaundice.
10. What are the characteristics of normocytic and normochromic red blood cells?
• Normocytic: normal size; Normochromic: normal amount of hemoglobin
11. What does microcytic mean in terms of red blood cell size?
• Smaller than normal.
12. What does hypochromic mean re- grading hemoglobin concentration?
• Lighter in color due to low hemoglobin concentration.
13.What is the average concentration of hemoglobin inside a red blood cell referred
to as?
• MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration).
14. What is the normal range for RBC count in females and males?
• 3.5-5 million cells per microliter for females and 4.2-5.2 million cells per
microliter for males.
15. What is hematocrit?
• The percentage of red blood cells in total blood volume.
16. What does anemia refer to in terms of red blood cells?
, • An abnormally low number of circulating RBCs or low levels of hemoglobin.
17. What are some causes of anemia?
• Excessive blood loss, hemolysis (RBC destruction), nutrient deficiencies
(iron, folic acid), or bone marrow failure.
18. What is the significance of the kidneys in the context of red blood cell
production?
• The kidneys monitor for hypoxia and secrete erythropoietin to stimulate RBC
production when needed.
19. What does the term macrocytic refer to?
• Larger than normal red blood cells.
20. What laboratory test measures the percentage of RBCs in totalblood volume?
• Hematocrit.
21.What is the role of the liver in processing bilirubin?
• The liver filters and metabolizes bilirubin, converting it to a water-soluble
form for excretion.
22. What characterizes anemia?
• Low cell count and more serum.
23.What characterizes polycythemia?
• High cell count and less serum, resulting in thicker blood.
24. What are the stages of hemostasis?
• 1. Vascular spasm, 2. Formation of platelet plug, 3. Blood coagulation, 4. Clot
retraction, 5. Fibrinolysis.
25. What occurs during the vascular spasm stage of hemostasis?
• Smooth muscle contracts, reducing blood flow from the ruptured blood
vessel.
26. Vessel Spasms reduces blood flow from the ruptured blood vessel, smooth
muscle contracts, transient, (time depends on size)
