Nursing Care of People with Haematological Disorders

Abstract

Disorders affecting blood and blood-forming organs have effects that range from minor disruptions in daily activities to major life-threatening crises. People with haematological disorders need holistic nursing care, including emotional support and care for problems involving major body systems. Red blood cells (RBCs) transport oxygen to body tissues and help return carbon dioxide to the lungs for excretion. Alterations in the number, size, shape or composition of RBCs affect their ability to effectively carry out these functions. Anaemia, the most common RBC disorder, is an abnormally low RBC count or reduced haemoglobin content. Polycythaemia is an abnormally high RBC count.