Which group of drugs will the nurse plan to include when teaching a patient who has a new diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD)? Select all that apply:

Choice A reason: Applying a clean, dry dressing over the VTE/DVT site is not necessary. VTE/DVT usually involves deep veins where there are no visible wounds requiring dressings. This instruction is irrelevant to the management and discharge instructions for a patient with DVT on anticoagulant therapy.
Choice B reason: Monitoring activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) results is relevant for heparin therapy, not for warfarin. Warfarin therapy is monitored using the international normalized ratio (INR). Therefore, this instruction is not appropriate for a patient being discharged on warfarin.
Choice C reason: Administering the warfarin dose at the same time each day is crucial for maintaining consistent blood levels of the medication, ensuring its effectiveness. It helps to maintain steady anticoagulation and reduces the risk of complications associated with fluctuating blood levels of warfarin.
Choice D reason: Instructing the patient to take aspirin or NSAIDs as needed for pain is inappropriate because these medications can increase the risk of bleeding when taken with warfarin. Patients on warfarin should avoid these medications and use alternatives like acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain relief.
Choice E reason: Advising the patient to use electric razors, not straight razors, when shaving is important to prevent cuts and bleeding. Warfarin increases the risk of bleeding, and using an electric razor minimizes the chance of nicks and cuts that could lead to significant bleeding.
Choice F reason: Monitoring the level of anticoagulation with warfarin using INR results is essential. Regular INR monitoring ensures that the patient maintains a therapeutic level of anticoagulation and helps prevent both clotting and bleeding complications. Adjustments to the warfarin dose are made based on INR results.

Choice A reason: While CT or MRI scans can be helpful in identifying structural changes in the brain associated with dementia, such as atrophy or the presence of strokes, they are not sufficient on their own to diagnose dementia. These imaging techniques are often used to rule out other causes of cognitive impairment and to support a clinical diagnosis, but they do not provide a complete picture of a patient's cognitive function.
Choice B reason: Patient history and cognitive assessment are the primary methods for diagnosing dementia. The clinical diagnosis is based on a thorough evaluation of the patient's medical history, including any changes in cognitive function, behavior, and daily living activities. Cognitive assessments, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), are used to evaluate memory, attention, language, and other cognitive abilities. These assessments help to determine the presence and severity of cognitive impairment and differentiate dementia from other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
Choice C reason: A brain biopsy is not a standard procedure for diagnosing dementia. It is an invasive procedure that involves taking a small sample of brain tissue for examination under a microscope. While it can provide definitive information about certain types of dementia, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, it is rarely used due to its invasiveness and associated risks.
Choice D reason: An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test that measures electrical activity in the brain. It can be useful in diagnosing certain neurological conditions, such as epilepsy, but it is not typically used to diagnose dementia. EEGs do not provide detailed information about cognitive function or the structural changes in the brain associated with dementia.