A medical–surgical nurse is reviewing laboratory results for…
A medical–surgical nurse is reviewing laboratory results for a postoperative patient who underwent a major abdominal surgery. The patient’s hemoglobin level is 7.9 g/dL (normal: 12–16 g/dL) and hematocrit is 24% (normal: 36–48%). Which finding would most likely explain the patient’s decreased hemoglobin level?