In a patient with leukemia whose platelet count has significantly dropped, what should the nurse check for?

In a patient with leukemia who has experienced a significant drop in platelet count, checking for occult blood in stool is crucial because low platelet levels can lead to impaired clotting ability, increasing the risk of bleeding. Occult blood may indicate that there is bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract, which can occur without visible signs in the stool. This situation is particularly concerning in patients with leukemia, as they are already at a heightened risk for bleeding due to thrombocytopenia. Detecting occult blood early can help in managing potential complications and guiding treatment strategies effectively.

Monitoring pain levels, signs of jaundice, and fluid intake are also important aspects of patient care, but they are less directly tied to the immediate risk associated with a low platelet count. Pain levels may indicate other issues but are not specific to bleeding risk, jaundice typically links to liver function and blood cell breakdown rather than platelet issues, and fluid intake is essential for overall health without a direct relationship to the acute risks from low platelets.