Final answer:
A nurse would use the International Normalized Ratio (INR) test to determine if a client's dose of warfarin is therapeutic. Pharmacogenomics can assist by personalizing dosing based on genetic factors that influence drug metabolism and response.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine whether the daily dose of warfarin is therapeutic for a client with venous thrombosis, a nurse would use the result of the International Normalized Ratio (INR) test. Warfarin therapy is monitored through the INR, which provides a standardized measure of the blood's clotting tendency. The target range for therapeutic INR varies depending on the indication for warfarin therapy but typically ranges between 2.0 and 3.0 for most indications. If the INR is too high, it could indicate a risk of bleeding, whereas an INR too low may suggest that the dosage is not effective enough to prevent clot formation.
Pharmacogenomics could be used to assist patients on warfarin by analyzing genetic factors that affect drug metabolism and response. For warfarin, certain genetic variations influence how an individual's liver metabolizes the drug, which can affect the required dosage and risk of bleeding. Personalizing warfarin dosing using pharmacogenomic information could potentially reduce the risk of overdose and increase the efficacy of the treatment.