The clinic nurse reviews the complete blood cell count (CBC) results for a patient who is scheduled for surgery in a few days. The results are white blood cell count (WBC) 10.2 x10^3/L; hemoglobin 15 g/dL; hematocrit 45%; platelets 150 x10^3/L. Which action should the nurse take?

• A. Send the CBC results to the surgery facility.
• B. Call the surgeon and anesthesiologist immediately.
• C. Ask the patient about any symptoms of a recent infection.
• D. Discuss the possibility of blood transfusion with the patient.

Answer: (A)

Interpreting preoperative CBC results shows that all values are within normal limits: WBC is around 10,000, hemoglobin 15 g/dL, hematocrit 45%, and platelets 150,000. With no leukocytosis, anemia, or thrombocytopenia, there’s no immediate medical issue requiring urgent intervention or altering the surgical plan. The appropriate action is to send these results to the surgery facility so the surgical and anesthesia teams have up-to-date information for clearance and planning. While checking for infection symptoms or discussing transfusion would be prudent in specific scenarios, they aren’t necessary actions here because the lab values don’t indicate a problem. The main point is ensuring the surgical team has the labs to confirm the patient can proceed with the planned procedure.