A nurse is caring for a client who asks why she is being prescribed aspirin 325 mg daily following a myocardial infarction. The nurse should instruct the client that aspirin is prescribed for clients who have coronary artery disease for which of the following effects?

A. Assist a client to eat who has difficulty seeing the foods on the tray.

Assisting a client with eating is a routine task that an AP can perform, especially when the client has difficulty with vision.

B. Provide postmortem care for a client who has died.

Postmortem care involves preparing the body of a deceased client. While it requires sensitivity, it is a task that can be appropriately delegated to assistive personnel.

C. Observe a confused surgical client who has multiple tubes.

Observing a confused client with multiple tubes requires a level of assessment and decision-making that goes beyond the scope of practice for an assistive personnel (AP). This task involves monitoring the client's condition, recognizing changes, and responding appropriately, which should be performed by a licensed nurse.

D. Deliver a client's urine specimen to the laboratory.

Transporting a urine specimen to the laboratory is a task that an assistive personnel can perform, as it does not involve interpretation or assessment of the specimen.

A. Inject the medication deep into the thigh muscle.

This statement is incorrect for subcutaneous heparin administration. Heparin is typically administered subcutaneously in the fatty tissue just under the skin, not into the muscle. Intramuscular injection is not appropriate for heparin.

B. Easy bruising indicates the medication is effective.

This statement is inaccurate. Easy bruising is not an indicator of the effectiveness of heparin. In fact, excessive bruising can be a side effect of anticoagulant therapy, indicating a potential issue with bleeding or clotting.

C. Expect stools to become black and tarry.

This statement is more relevant to medications like iron supplements or upper gastrointestinal bleeding. It is not a common side effect of subcutaneous heparin.

D. Use a soft bristle toothbrush.

This statement is correct. It is important for individuals on anticoagulant therapy, such as heparin, to use a soft bristle toothbrush to minimize the risk of bleeding and gum irritation. Hard bristle toothbrushes can cause gum bleeding, especially in individuals with a tendency for bleeding due to anticoagulant use.