Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 82%
Simulated
A nurse is preparing to administer a scheduled dose of warfarin to a client. Which of the following laboratory tests should the nurse review prior to administration?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
The correct answer is B: PT. The nurse should review the PT (Prothrombin Time) test before administering warfarin because warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that works by inhibiting the clotting factors dependent on vitamin K, including factor II (prothrombin). Monitoring the PT helps ensure that the client's blood is clotting appropriately, as warfarin therapy requires a specific target range for PT known as the INR (International Normalized Ratio). Reviewing the PT will help the nurse assess the client's clotting status and adjust the warfarin dosage accordingly.
Choice A, PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time), is not specific to monitoring warfarin therapy; it is more commonly used to assess the intrinsic pathway of coagulation. Choice C, WBC (White Blood Cell count), and choice D, Total Iron-Binding Capacity, are not relevant to monitoring warfarin therapy and are unrelated to clotting function
Choice A, PTT (Partial Thromboplastin Time), is not specific to monitoring warfarin therapy; it is more commonly used to assess the intrinsic pathway of coagulation. Choice C, WBC (White Blood Cell count), and choice D, Total Iron-Binding Capacity, are not relevant to monitoring warfarin therapy and are unrelated to clotting function