Question

While delivering the lunch tray of a patient who is taking warfarin (Coumadin), the nurse notices diversity of food items. Which of the following foods would be a concern?

1) Spinach
2) Carrots
3) Chicken
4) Rice

Answer 1

Spinach, which is high in Vitamin K, can affect the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin) by potentially decreasing its anticoagulant effects.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the food items on a patient's tray who is taking warfarin (Coumadin), the food of concern would be spinach. Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication that is used to prevent blood clots, and its activity can be affected by dietary intake of Vitamin K, which plays a significant role in blood clotting.

Spinach is rich in Vitamin K, and consuming large amounts of it can potentially decrease the effectiveness of warfarin and alter the patient's International Normalized Ratio (INR), which is used to monitor the medication's effectiveness.