Question

The nurse is caring for a patient who takes warfarin daily for a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Which information about the patient is most important to report to the health care provider (HCP)?

A) The international normalized ratio (INR) is 5.2.
B) Bruising is noted at sites where blood has been drawn.
C) The patient reports eating a green salad for lunch every day.
D) The patient has questions about whether a different

Answer 1

The most critical information to report is the elevated INR value of 5.2, as it signifies a high risk of bleeding due to the anticoagulant effects of warfarin and is well above the therapeutic range.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most important information to report to the health care provider (HCP) when a patient on warfarin has an international normalized ratio (INR) of 5.2 is this high INR value itself. Warfarin, also known as Coumadin, is a medication commonly prescribed to prevent excessive blood clotting, such as in patients with atrial fibrillation. An INR of 5.2 is significantly higher than the typical therapeutic range (usually between 2.0 and 3.0 for most indications), indicating an increased risk of bleeding. A high INR means that it is taking much longer for blood to clot than normal, making the patient susceptible to serious bleeding complications. This is especially urgent to report if the patient is at risk of falls, is undergoing any procedure that could lead to bleeding, or has any signs of bleeding. While the bruising at blood draw sites and the patient consuming a green salad daily (which contains vitamin K that can affect warfarin activity) are also important, they do not require immediate action like a supratherapeutic INR does. Additionally, patients' questions about their medication should always be addressed, but this is not as critical as an abnormal INR result.