Definition of Anaemia –Nursing is a profession within the healthcare sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other healthcare providers by their approach to patient care, training, and scope of practice. Nurses practice in many specialisms with differing levels of prescriber authority.
Many nurses provide care within the ordering scope of physicians, and this traditional role has shaped the public image of nurses as care providers. However, nurses are permitted by most jurisdictions to practice independently in a variety of settings depending on training level. In the postwar period, nurse education has undergone a process of diversification towards advanced and specialized credentials, and many of the traditional regulations and provider roles are changing.
Nurses develop a plan of care, working collaboratively with physicians, therapists, the patient, the patient’s family, and other team members, that focus on treating illness to improve quality of life. Nurses may help coordinate the patient care performed by other members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team such as therapists, medical practitioners, and dietitians. Nurses provide care both interdependently, for example, with physicians, and independently as nursing professionals.
Definition of Anaemia
It is a clinical condition characterized by the pale colouration of the skin & mucous membrane due to decreased concentration of Hb in the peripheral blood below the normal range for the age & sex of the person.
Or,
Anaemia is a clinical condition characterized by pale coloration of the skin and mucous membrane due to qualitative and quantitative deficiency of haemoglobin below the lower limit in the peripheral blood in respect of age and sex.
Or,
Anaemia refers to a state in which the level of haemoglobin in the blood is below the normal range appropriate for age and sex.When the hemoglobin level in blood is below the lower limit/extreme of the normal range for the age and sex of the individual is called anaemia.
Classifications of Anaemia:
A. Morphological classification:
(On the basis of absolute values – MCV, MCH, MCHC)
a) Microcytic hypochromic anaemia: ( ↓ MCV, MCH & MCHC)
- Iron deficiency anaemia.
- Thalassaemias.
- Sideroblastic anaemia.
- Anaemia of chronic disease.
b) Normocytic normochromic anaemia: (MCV, MCH & MCHC normal, but ↓ RBC & Hb)
- Aplastic anaemia.
- Haemolytic anaemia.
- Acute haemorrhagic anaemia.
c) Macrocytic anaemia: (↑MCV, MCHC normal)
- Megaloblasic anemia due to vtamin B12 deficiency.
- Megaloblastic anaemia due to folic acid deficiency.
B. Aetiological classification:
a) Haemorrhagic anaemia:
- Acute haemorrhage: Trauma, surgical operation.
- Chronic haemorrhage:
✓GIT lesion: PUD, hookworm infestation, haemorrhoids etc.
✓ Gynaecological disturbance: Menorrhagia.
b) Haemolytic anaemia: (Due to excess RBC destruction)
- Intra-corpuscular defect: Thalassaemia.
- Extra-corpuscular defect: Haemolytic disease of newborn.
c) Dyshaemopoietic anaemia:
- Due- to deficiency of essential elements of erythropoiesis:
✓ Iron deficiency anaemia.
✓ Megaloblastic anaemia (due to deficiency of vitamin B12 & folic acid.
✓ Nutritional anaemia in PEM (protein-energy malnutrition),
✓ Anaemia with scurvy (due to deficiency of vitamin C).
Due to bone marrow disturbance:
✓ Aplastic anaemia.
✓ Sideroblastic anaemia.
✓ Anaemia with renal failure (due to reduced erythropoietin secretion).
C. Clinical classification:
a) Mild anaemia: When Hb 12 to 9 gm /dl. (‘+’)
b) Moderate anaemia: When Hb = 9 to 6 gm/dl. (++)
c) Severe anaemia: When Hb = Less than 6 gm/dl. (+++)
Causes of anemia:
| Anemia | Causes |
| 1. Iron deficiency anemia |
|
| 2. Blood loss anemi |
|
| 3. Aplastic anemia |
|
| 4. Megaloblastic anemia |
|
| 5. Hemolytic anemia |
|
Site Where Anaemia is seen:
- Lower palpebral conjunctiva
- Dorsum of the tongue
- Buccal mucous membrane
- Palm of the hand
- Nail bed
- Sole of the feet
- Whole skin
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