Question

A nurse is preparing to administer warfarin to a client who has a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse check prior to giving the medication?

a) Platelet count
b) Prothrombin time (PT)
c) White blood cell count

Answer 1

The nurse should check the Prothrombin Time (PT) before administering warfarin to a client with atrial fibrillation, as it measures blood clotting time and influences warfarin dosage.

Step-by-step explanation:

Before administering warfarin to a client with a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, the nurse should check the Prothrombin Time (PT). PT is a measure of how long it takes blood to clot and is used to determine the proper dosage of warfarin. This test is crucial because warfarin affects the clotting factors in the blood that are vitamin K-dependent, and PT is sensitive to these factors. Monitoring PT helps prevent the complications of under-treatment, such as thrombus formation, or the dangers of over-treatment, which can lead to excessive bleeding.