Mr. Fitts, a 72-year-old male whose wife died six months ago, is brought to the health care provider by his daughter because he is not eating much and has been lethargic and sleeping a lot. He has a history of hyperlipidemia for which he takes niacin/lovastatin 500/20 mg PO daily at bedtime.
Subjective Data
Has been unusually tired for the past couple of months
Is frequently short of breath and sometimes feels like his ‘heart is pounding’
Has lost weight because his wife always used to cook for him and he doesn’t cook for himself
Describes a typical daily meal as coffee and a donut for breakfast, a hot dog and lemonade for lunch, and a jelly sandwich on white bread and coffee for supper
Objective Data
Physical Examination
Blood pressure 118/72, pulse 98, temperature 98.2° F, respirations 16
Oxygen saturation 92% on room air
Height 5’6”, weight 135 lbs, BMI 21.7 kg/m2
S1 and S2 auscultated and regular
Bilateral radial pulses +3 and regular
Lungs clear bilaterally
Diagnostic Studies
RBC 3,300,000/µL
Hemoglobin 8.3 g/dL
Hematocrit 24%
MCV 73 fL
MCH 23 pg
WBC 9,100/µL
Platelets 250,000/µL
Iron 28 mcg/dL
Ferritin 14 ng/mL
Cobalamin 600 pg/mL
Folate10 ng/mL
Question 1
Interpret Mr. Fitts’s laboratory results. Interpretation means to tell me what is abnormal and what is normal. If the lab is abnormal, please tell me what it can be attributed to.
Question 2
Based on the laboratory data and assessment findings, the health care provider diagnoses Mr. Fitts with iron deficiency anemia. What clinical manifestations of iron deficiency anemia does Mr. Fitts have?
Question 3
Explain iron deficiency anemia and identify the probable cause of D.G’s anemia.
Question 4
How is iron deficiency anemia treated?
Question 5
Identify dietary iron sources to include in Mr. Fitts’s teaching.
Question 6
What are important points to include when teaching patients taking oral iron supplements? Please be specific as to what to take them with and what are the side effects.
Question 7
What evaluative parameters could you use to determine whether Mr. Fitts’s anemia is resolving? In other words how are you going to know he is getting better and please be specific to labs and potential assessment findings.
