ATI MEDSURG FINAL EXAM 2024 WITH (QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ) FULLY EXPLAINED

A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for warfarin. The nurse should use the results of which of the following diagnostic tests to monitor the effect of this therapy? A Prothrombin time (PT) B Platelet count C White blood cell count (WBC) D Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ________________________________________ Correct Answer: A a. Prothrombin time (PT): Warfarin affects the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade, and PT is the primary diagnostic test used to monitor the therapeutic effect of warfarin. It measures the time it takes for blood to clot. b. Platelet count: Platelet count assesses the number of platelets in the blood and is not specifically used to monitor the effect of warfarin. c. White blood cell count (WBC): WBC count assesses the number of white blood cells and is not specifically used to monitor the effect of warfarin. d. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT): While aPTT is a valuable test for monitoring the therapeutic effect of heparin, it is not the primary test for warfarin. Warfarin primarily affects the extrinsic pathway, and PT is more appropriate for monitoring its effects. The nurse is caring for a client on the third day following abdominal surgery and assesses the absence of bowel sounds, abdominal distention, and the client passing no flatus. These findings indicate the client is experiencing which of the following postoperative complications?