Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 69%
Simulated
The nurse is caring for a patient receiving warfarin and notes bruising and petechiae on the patient's extremities. The nurse will request an order for which?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: International normalized ratio (INR). When a patient on warfarin presents with bruising and petechiae, it suggests potential over-anticoagulation. INR measures the effectiveness of warfarin therapy by assessing clotting time. An elevated INR indicates a higher risk of bleeding due to excessive anticoagulation. Ordering a Vitamin K level (choice A) is not necessary as the patient is already on warfarin. PTT and aPTT (choice B) are not specific to monitoring warfarin therapy. Platelet level (choice D) is not indicated for assessing warfarin effects.