title: Beyond the bloody mess: hematologic assessment.
abstract: Hematologic assessment is part of the routine assessment of acute and critically ill patients. Nurses must be aware of the reference ranges for complete blood cell counts and common coagulation profiles. A case study is presented of an elderly patient, taking warfarin for atrial fibrillation, who falls and sustains a head laceration. The subsequent assessment, hospital course, and treatments required are outlined.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Outer Banks Hospital, Nags Head, NC, USA. carol.rauen@charter.net
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rauen
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests / Q000592:standards*; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000592:standards*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000592:standards*; D012015:Reference Standards; D012307:Risk Factors; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014859:Warfarin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin