A woman is diagnosed with severe anemia when her hemoglobin is less than what value?

MP CHO -2021 (Shift 1st)

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: MP CHO -2021 (Shift 1st)

Explanation

Severe anemia is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other medical bodies as a hemoglobin (Hb) level below 7.0 g/dL.
This level signifies a critical reduction in the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, which can lead to severe symptoms and complications.
Clinically, a patient with an Hb level below 7 g/dL is often evaluated for urgent interventions, such as a blood transfusion, especially if they are symptomatic (e.g., showing signs of cardiac distress or severe fatigue).

Option B: A hemoglobin level of 10 g/dL is the threshold for moderate anemia, not severe. It indicates a significant but not critical drop in hemoglobin.
Option C: A hemoglobin level of 11 g/dL is the general cutoff used to diagnose the presence of any anemia in pregnant women, not to classify it as severe.
Option D: A hemoglobin level of 12 g/dL is considered the lower limit of the normal range for a non-pregnant adult woman.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of anemia severity based on hemoglobin levels as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be vigilant in assessing for signs and symptoms of severe anemia, such as profound fatigue, dyspnea at rest, tachycardia, and pallor. An Hb level below 7 g/dL is a critical value that requires immediate reporting to the healthcare provider.
Nursing interventions for a patient with severe anemia include monitoring vital signs closely, administering supplemental oxygen as prescribed, ensuring patient safety by assisting with ambulation to prevent falls due to weakness or dizziness, and preparing for a potential blood transfusion.
What if? If the patient were a healthy adult male, the normal hemoglobin cutoff would be higher (around 13 g/dL), but the threshold for defining severe anemia (less than 7 g/dL) and the urgency of the required intervention would remain the same.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'severe anemia' and 'hemoglobin value'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of the standard medical classifications for anemia severity.
Recall the WHO classification of anemia. The critical threshold for 'severe' is a key value to memorize for exams.
Evaluate each option against this classification: 12 g/dL is normal for non-pregnant women, 11 g/dL is the cutoff for any anemia in pregnancy, 10 g/dL falls into the moderate range, and less than 7 g/dL defines severe anemia.
Select the option that correctly corresponds to the definition of severe anemia.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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