Which serum laboratory test is most important for the nurse to monitor when administering enoxaparin to a client?
Protein and albumin.
Complete blood count (CBC).
BUN and creatinine.
Electrolytes.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Protein and albumin reflect nutritional or liver status but are unaffected by enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin inhibiting factor Xa. These do not monitor anticoagulation effects or complications like bleeding. CBC is critical, as enoxaparin increases bleeding risk, requiring platelet and hemoglobin monitoring to detect serious hematological issues.
Choice B reason: Enoxaparin, an anticoagulant, heightens bleeding risk and can cause thrombocytopenia. Monitoring CBC, especially platelets and hemoglobin, detects heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) or hemorrhage. This ensures early identification of complications, allowing timely intervention to prevent severe bleeding or thrombosis, making CBC the most critical test for safe administration.
Choice C reason: BUN and creatinine assess renal function, relevant for renally cleared drugs, but enoxaparin is primarily liver-metabolized. Renal monitoring is secondary unless severe impairment exists. CBC is more urgent, as enoxaparin’s anticoagulant effect increases bleeding risk, necessitating hematological surveillance to prevent life-threatening complications.
Choice D reason: Electrolytes like potassium or sodium are not directly affected by enoxaparin’s action on the coagulation cascade. Imbalances may occur in critical illness but are not primary concerns. CBC monitoring for bleeding or thrombocytopenia is critical, as enoxaparin’s anti-Xa activity poses hematological risks requiring immediate attention.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Positioning right lateral with head elevation may shift fluid but does not restore drain suction. Compressing the bulb creates negative pressure, promoting drainage. Positioning is less effective, per surgical drain management and postoperative care standards in nursing practice.
Choice B reason: Compressing the bulb with the tab open, then reinserting it, restores negative pressure, enhancing drainage in the surgical drain. This ensures fluid removal, preventing hematoma or infection, per evidence-based surgical drain management and postoperative care protocols in nursing practice.
Choice C reason: Irrigating the drain with saline risks infection and is not standard for low drainage. Compressing the bulb restores suction, promoting drainage safely. Irrigation is inappropriate, per surgical drain management and infection control standards in postoperative nursing care.
Choice D reason: Reinforcing dressings and assessing drainage addresses symptoms, not the cause of low drainage. Compressing the bulb restores suction, increasing drainage effectively. Dressings are secondary, per surgical drain management and postoperative wound care protocols in nursing practice.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Questioning about related symptoms (e.g., urgency, frequency) clarifies nocturia and hesitancy, suggesting causes like benign prostatic hyperplasia. This comprehensive data guides targeted assessments, ensuring accurate diagnosis and treatment, per urological assessment and patient history standards in elderly male nursing care.
Choice B reason: Palpating for an inguinal bulge assesses hernia, unrelated to nocturia or hesitancy. Questioning related symptoms better identifies urinary issues, guiding diagnosis. Hernias are not primary causes, per urological assessment and differential diagnosis protocols in nursing care for urinary complaints.
Choice C reason: Inspecting the meatus for abnormalities or discharge may follow but is less comprehensive than symptom questioning, which broadens the urinary history. Symptoms like hesitancy suggest internal issues, per urological assessment and benign prostatic hyperplasia diagnostic standards in nursing practice for elderly men.
Choice D reason: Observing scrotal swelling assesses testicular issues, not directly linked to nocturia or hesitancy. Questioning symptoms like weak stream or dribbling prioritizes urinary tract evaluation, per urological and geriatric assessment protocols in nursing care for male urinary symptoms.
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