Nursing Assessment for Anemia

Anemia Definition:

Anemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells (RBC's) or hemoglobin, resulting in a lower ability for the blood to carry oxygen to body tissues.

Anemia has many causes. Common causes of anemia in lung cancer include:

• Bone marrow suppression (myelosuppression) - due to chemotherapy
• Bleeding - due to surgery, or from complications of the cancer
• The cancer itself - anemia is common with many chronic diseases, due to the disease itself, or secondary to nutritional deficiencies brought on by the disease

Common symptoms of anemia include fatigue, lightheadedness, palpitations, and shortness of breath.

Nursing Assessment for Anemia

a. Perform a physical assessment
b. Get medical history, including diet history
c. Observe for manifestations of anemia

common manifestations

• muscle weakness
• easily tired
• pale skin

central nervous system manifestations

• headache
• dizziness
• see stars
• sensitive excitatory
• slow thinking process
• decrease in visual field
• apathetic
• depression

shock (blood loss anemia)

• Peripheral perfusion labor
• Clammy skin
• Low blood pressure and blood pressure setral
• Increased frequency of heart

Labels: Nursing Assessment for Anemia