Introduction
Introduction ( 7 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client receiving intravenous heparin. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor to assess the client's response to therapy?
Incorrect. Prothrombin time (PT) is used to monitor clients receiving warfarin therapy, not heparin.
Incorrect. International normalized ratio (INR) is also used to monitor clients receiving warfarin therapy, not heparin.
Correct. Heparin primarily affects the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, and the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is the laboratory test used to monitor the client's response to heparin therapy. The aPTT provides information about the time it takes for the client's blood to clot and helps determine the appropriate heparin dosage.
Incorrect. Platelet count is important to monitor for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), a potential adverse effect of heparin therapy, but it does not directly assess the client's response to heparin therapy.
C) Correct. Heparin primarily affects the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, and the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is the laboratory test used to monitor the client's response to heparin therapy. The aPTT provides information about the time it takes for the client's blood to clot and helps determine the appropriate heparin dosage.
A) Incorrect. Prothrombin time (PT) is used to monitor clients receiving warfarin therapy, not heparin.
B) Incorrect. International normalized ratio (INR) is also used to monitor clients receiving warfarin therapy, not heparin.
D) Incorrect. Platelet count is important to monitor for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), a potential adverse effect of heparin therapy, but it does not directly assess the client's response to heparin therapy.