A nurse is monitoring the laboratory values of a client who is receiving heparin. Which of the following values should the nurse report to the provider?
PT 11 seconds
APTT 50 seconds
Hematocrit 456
Platelets 300,000/mm²
The Correct Answer is C
A.PT (Prothrombin Time) 11 seconds: The prothrombin time measures the extrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade. A PT of 11 seconds is within the normal range, and it indicates that the extrinsic clotting pathway is functioning appropriately. There is no need to report this value.
B. APTT (Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time) 50 seconds: The APTT measures the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade. A value of 50 seconds is prolonged and may suggest that the client is receiving an effective anticoagulant dose. However, the APTT target range can vary based on the specific therapeutic goal and the heparin protocol in use. It's essential to follow the healthcare provider's guidance on the target APTT range.
C. Hematocrit 456: The normal range for hematocrit is usually expressed as a percentage. A value of 456 is outside the normal range and likely represents an error or a misinterpretation. The nurse should verify this value, as an extremely high hematocrit could be indicative of an issue such as dehydration or an analytical error.
D. Platelets 300,000/mm²: A platelet count of 300,000/mm² is within the normal range. There is no need to report this value as it suggests a normal platelet count.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Urine specific gravity 1.020: While this value indicates concentrated urine and can be useful in assessing dehydration, it doesn’t specifically confirm effective treatment. High urine specific gravity suggests dehydration because the kidneys are conserving water, but it doesn’t directly confirm the effectiveness of treatment.
B. BUN 28 mg/dl (Blood Urea Nitrogen): Elevated BUN levels can be seen in dehydration, but it's not a direct marker of effective treatment. It indicates dehydration due to increased urea concentration in the blood but doesn’t confirm if the treatment has been effective or not.
C. Serum hematocrit 55%: In dehydration, the blood becomes more concentrated due to water loss, causing an increase in hematocrit levels. However, while this value might indicate dehydration initially, it may not specifically confirm the effectiveness of treatment once initiated.
D. Serum osmolarity 310 mOsm: Serum osmolarity measures the concentration of particles in the blood. In dehydration, the blood becomes more concentrated, leading to increased serum osmolarity. When treatment is effective, rehydration occurs, diluting the blood and bringing serum osmolarity back toward normal levels. Therefore, a decrease in serum osmolarity towards the normal range (280-300 mOsm) would indicate effective treatment of dehydration
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. A client received 0900 medications at 0930:
This situation involves a medication administration error where the medications were administered later than the scheduled time. An incident report should be completed to document the error, investigate the circumstances, and implement measures to prevent recurrence.
B. A client who has asthma was administered tiotropium via inhalation:
Tiotropium is an appropriate medication for asthma. As long as it was administered according to the prescribed guidelines, there is no need for an incident report.
C. A client received a blood transfusion with dextrose 5% in water:
This situation involves a significant medication error, as dextrose 5% in water is not the appropriate solution for a blood transfusion. An incident report should be completed to document the error, investigate the circumstances, and implement measures to prevent recurrence.
D. A client received an infusion of lipids through a central line:
If the infusion of lipids through a central line was ordered and administered appropriately, there is no need for an incident report. Lipid infusions are commonly administered through central lines when indicated.
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