The nurse is caring for a patient with a gastorintestinal (GI) bleed who is short of breath but has clear lung sounds and an oxygen saturation of 98%. Which of the following is the most probable cause for the patient's symptoms?

Explanation

•The patient most likely has anemia due to the GI bleed. The patient's oxygen saturation is normal because the small amount of hemoglobin is saturated with an adequate amount of oxygen, but the hemoglobin levels are still low. This is a hematologic problem that is causing respiratory symptoms.

•Not enough information to assume a psychiatric disorder, although anxiety commonly causes hyperventilation and dyspnea.

•Heart failure would result in abnormal breath sounds.

•Poor perfusion to the extremities would result in poor oxygen saturation as well as cool/cold extremities.

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