Final answer:
A nurse caring for a patient on warfarin should monitor for excessive bleeding. Pharmacogenomics can help tailor warfarin dosages to individuals' genetic makeup to prevent overdose.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse should monitor for excessive bleeding as an adverse effect when a client who is recovering from deep-vein thrombosis starts taking warfarin. Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that works by inhibiting the synthesis of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors, which are critical for blood clot formation. Since warfarin affects the blood's ability to clot, patients are at a higher risk of bleeding, even from minor injuries.
Pharmacogenomics can be used to assist patients taking warfarin by analyzing the patient's genetic makeup to understand how they metabolize the drug. This personalized approach helps to determine the correct dosage for the individual to minimize the risk of overdose and adverse effects, given that liver function, which plays a key role in drug metabolism, can vary widely among individuals.