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 B
Explanation
B. Weight gain can indicate that methimazole is effectively managing the thyroid imbalance. Methimazole is commonly used to treat hyperthyroidism by inhibiting the production of thyroid hormones. Weight gain may occur as a result of restoring thyroid hormone levels to normal, which can lead to a decrease in metabolism and an improvement in symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism, such as unintended weight loss.
A. Increased libido is not typically associated with the effectiveness of methimazole in treating thyroid imbalance. Thyroid dysfunction, whether hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, can affect libido, but improvement in libido would not specifically indicate the effectiveness of methimazole.
C. Decreased menstrual flow is not a typical indicator of the effectiveness of methimazole in treating thyroid imbalance. Thyroid dysfunction can affect menstrual cycles, with hyperthyroidism often associated with lighter or irregular menstrual periods. However, improvement in menstrual flow alone would not necessarily indicate the effectiveness of methimazole.
D. Clear breath sounds are not specific to the effectiveness of methimazole in treating thyroid imbalance. While methimazole can help manage symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as palpitations and shortness of breath, clear breath sounds do not directly indicate thyroid function improvement.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
D. Chills are a hallmark sign of febrile nonhemolytic reactions. These reactions typically present with fever, chills, and occasionally rigors (shivering). They are caused by recipient antibodies reacting to donor leukocytes or cytokines present in the transfused blood components.
A. Dyspnea (difficulty breathing) is not typically associated with febrile nonhemolytic reactions. It is more commonly seen in acute hemolytic reactions or transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI).
B. Urticaria (hives) is more commonly associated with allergic transfusion reactions rather than febrile nonhemolytic reactions.
C. Vomiting is not a characteristic feature of febrile nonhemolytic reactions. It may occur in some cases of transfusion reactions, but it is not specific to febrile nonhemolytic reactions.
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