A patient is admitted to a hospital with a diagnosis of dehydration secondary to acute gastroenteritis.The patient also has polycythemia vera.Which results of a complete blood count (CBC)should the nurse identify as consistent with this clinical presentation?

Question

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Polycythemia vera is a condition characterized by an increase in the number of red blood cells, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. Therefore, the nurse should expect to see increased levels of RBC, hematocrit, and hemoglobin on the CBC, even in the presence of dehydration secondary to acute gastroenteritis. Choice A and B are inconsistent with polycythemia vera, and choice C describes a normal CBC result.

A Patient Is Admitted to a Hospital with a Diagnosis