Question

The nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a continuous intravenous heparin infusion. The client's most recent activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is 120 seconds. Which medication should the nurse plan to administer?

Protamine
Naloxone
Enoxaparin
Vitamin K

Answer 1

The nurse should administer protamine to the client receiving a continuous intravenous heparin infusion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should plan to administer protamine to the client receiving a continuous intravenous heparin infusion.

Heparin is an anticoagulant that is used to prevent blood clotting. However, if the client's activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is above the therapeutic range, it indicates that the client's blood is too thin and there is a risk of bleeding. In this case, protamine is the antidote for heparin and it helps to reverse the anticoagulant effect of heparin.

Therefore, administering protamine to the client will help to restore normal blood clotting in the case of the high aPTT.