A nurse is preparing to administer a daily dose of warfarin to a client. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse check prior to administration?
Platelets
OPTT
WBC
INR
The Correct Answer is D
D. The INR is the standard laboratory test used to monitor the effectiveness of warfarin therapy. Warfarin interferes with the synthesis of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, primarily factors II, VII, IX, and X. The INR provides a standardized measure of coagulation status, allowing healthcare providers to adjust warfarin dosage to maintain therapeutic anticoagulation while minimizing the risk of bleeding or thrombosis.
A. Platelets are involved in the process of blood clotting, but checking platelet levels is not specific to monitoring warfarin therapy. Platelet count may be relevant in assessing overall coagulation status, but it is not the primary laboratory value monitored for warfarin therapy.
B. OPTT measures the time it takes for blood to clot after specific clotting factors are activated. While OPTT is used to monitor the effectiveness of heparin therapy, it is not routinely monitored for warfarin therapy. Warfarin primarily affects the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, and the international normalized ratio (INR) is the standard laboratory test used to monitor warfarin therapy.
C. White blood cell count assesses the number of white blood cells in the blood and is used to evaluate the immune system and detect infections. Monitoring white blood cell count is not specific to warfarin therapy and is not routinely checked prior to administering warfarin.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Discarding excess medication with a witness is necessary as the medication cannot be saved or reused.
B. Morphine is a controlled substance, and administering a partial dose and saving the rest for later use may lead to potential errors, diversion, or contamination of the remaining medication.
C. While excess medication should be disposed of properly, it is not necessary to dispose of the entire in the sharp’s container. Only the container itself should go to the sharp’s container.
D. The nurse should not administer the full prescribed dose of morphine from the prefilled syringe as that is an overdose as it can lead to respiratory depression.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Nitroglycerin patches should not be removed for routine activities like bathing unless specifically instructed.
B. Nitroglycerin is used to treat hypertension, not induce it. Monitoring for hypertension after applying the patch is unnecessary.
C. To prevent skin irritation and tolerance to the medication, it is important to rotate the application sites when using a transdermal patch. This allows the skin to recover and helps maintain the effectiveness of the medication.
D. Nitroglycerin patches are typically worn continuously for 12 to 14 hours and then removed for a 10- to 12-hour nitrate-free interval to prevent tolerance to the medication.
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