Heparin NCLEX Questions (Anticoagulation) NCLEX EXAM 2022

1. Heparin is an anticoagulant. What family of anticoagulant medications does this drug belong to? A. Direct thrombin inhibitors B. Indirect thrombin inhibitors C. Vitamin K antagonists D. Factor Xa inhibitors The answer is B. Heparin is an anticoagulant that belongs to the Indirect Thrombin Inhibitors family. 2. Which statement below BEST describes how Heparin works as an anticoagulant? A. “It inhibits clotting factors from synthesizing Vitamin K.” B. “It inactivates the extrinsic pathways of coagulation.” C. “It prevents Factor Xa from activating prothrombin to fibrinogen.” D. “It enhances the activation of antihrombin III, which prevents the activation of thrombin and the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin.” The answer is D. Heparin enhances the activation of antihrombin III, which prevents the activation of thrombin and the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. Therefore, this medication INDIRECTLY inhibits thrombin via antithrombin III.