Examkin

Soru

Zorluk: KolayPharmacological Therapies

A practical nurse is preparing to administer a scheduled dose of oral warfarin to a client diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Which of the following actions must the nurse take before administering this medication?

  1. Review the client's most recent international normalized ratio (INR).Cevap
  2. B
    Review the client's most recent activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).
  3. C
    Assess the client's apical pulse for one full minute.
  4. D
    Monitor the client's blood pressure in the supine and standing positions.

Cevap

Review the client's most recent international normalized ratio (INR).
Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant, and its therapeutic effect is directly measured by the prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR). Before administering warfarin, the nurse must review the most recent INR to ensure it is within the prescribed therapeutic range. Administering the medication without verifying this lab value places the client at a high risk for severe bleeding if the level is too high, or at risk for clotting if the level is subtherapeutic.

Adım Adım Çözüm

1
Identify the medication class and its primary function.
Warfarin is recognized as an oral anticoagulant used to prevent blood clots.
Understanding the drug class is the first step in identifying its specific monitoring parameters.
2
Determine the specific laboratory value used to monitor this medication.
The therapeutic effect of warfarin is monitored using the international normalized ratio (INR).
Anticoagulants have a narrow therapeutic index and require strict lab monitoring to prevent hemorrhage or clotting.
3
Select the appropriate pre-administration safety check.
The nurse must check the most recent INR results before giving the dose.
If the INR is supra-therapeutic (too high), the dose must be withheld and reported to the RN or provider to prevent severe bleeding.

Anahtar Kavram

Pre-administration safety checks for oral anticoagulants
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Konular

Pharmacological Therapies

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