A nurse is caring for a patient after hip replacement surgery. The patient has been receiving iron ...

ANS: B
This patient is showing signs of iron deficiency anemia, as manifested by tachycardia and pallor. Because this patient's blood pressure is low, the anemia probably has occurred secondary to blood loss, a common occurrence with hip replacement surgery. The first response should be to obtain an H&H to assess the anemia. GI hemorrhage is not a concern in this patient; black stools are an expected effect of oral iron administration. A stool guaiac is not indicated. If the patient has blood loss that is causing hypotension, an isotonic fluid bolus and packed red blood cells (PRBCs) are indicated to treat this.

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