Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 62%
Simulated
A nurse is caring for a client who has been taking warfarin and has a prothrombin time of 30 seconds and an INR of 7. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate the provider to prescribe?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: Vitamin K. Vitamin K is the antidote for warfarin, an anticoagulant, which inhibits vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. In this case, the client's high INR indicates over-anticoagulation, putting them at risk for bleeding. Administering vitamin K will help normalize the prothrombin time and INR levels.
Choice A: Ferrous sulfate is an iron supplement, not indicated in this scenario.
Choice B: Prednisone is a corticosteroid and does not address the over-anticoagulation issue.
Choice D: Heparin is another anticoagulant and would worsen the over-anticoagulation problem.
Therefore, the correct choice is C: Vitamin K, as it directly addresses the issue of over-anticoagulation in a patient taking warfarin.
Choice A: Ferrous sulfate is an iron supplement, not indicated in this scenario.
Choice B: Prednisone is a corticosteroid and does not address the over-anticoagulation issue.
Choice D: Heparin is another anticoagulant and would worsen the over-anticoagulation problem.
Therefore, the correct choice is C: Vitamin K, as it directly addresses the issue of over-anticoagulation in a patient taking warfarin.