A nurse reviews the lаbоrаtоry results оf аn 80-year-old client with chronic kidney disease: RBC 3.5 million cells/mcL, BUN 27 mg/dL (normal 10-20 mg/dL), and creatinine 2.0 mg/dL (normal 0.6-1.2 mg/dL). The provider prescribes epoetin alfa (a synthetic erythropoietin). Which physiological problem is the nurse addressing with this medication?