Question

The patient receives warfarin (Coumadin). The nurse notes that the patient's morning international normalized ratio (INR) is 7-. What are the priority nursing interventions at this time?

1. Hold the next dose of warfarin (Coumadin) and repeat the international normalized ratio (INR).
2. Administer protamine sulfate and hold the next dose of warfarin (Coumadin).
3. Hold the next dose of warfarin (Coumadin) and contact the physician.
4. Administer vitamin K and hold the next dose of warfarin (Coumadin).

Answer 1

When the patient's INR is 7-, the priority nursing intervention is to hold the next dose of warfarin (Coumadin) and contact the physician.

Step-by-step explanation:

The priority nursing intervention when the patient's morning international normalized ratio (INR) is 7- is to hold the next dose of warfarin (Coumadin) and contact the physician. A high INR indicates that the blood is taking longer to clot, which puts the patient at an increased risk of bleeding. Contacting the physician is essential to discuss and determine the appropriate course of action, such as adjusting the dosage or providing additional treatment.