Aplastic anemia is bone marrow failure that cuts production of red cells, white cells, and platelets. Iron supplements don't help because the problem isn't iron deficiency but marrow insufficiency. Low white cells and platelets leave patients immunocompromised and at high risk for infection, the key nursing concern.
Let's walk through some key critical thinking points for aplastic anemia. So this happens when the bone marrow is not producing enough red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets and this can lead to anemia. But the thing is my friend, increasing iron is not going to help because it is a bone marrow problem. The bone marrow is simply not making enough red blood cells leading to anemia. So anemia happens because the bone marrow can't make enough RBCs so that the those blood cell counts will be decreased. Now all the signs and symptoms link back to the pathos. So think low blood cells. Low red blood cells equals less blood to the organs. Lethargy, shortness of breath, pale skin all the signs that you would classically see with anemia. Now a major NCLEX point here that you've got to know is to watch for infections because these patients are immunocompromised, okay they're white blood cells and platelets they are decreased so gotta watch for infection.
