A nurse is reinforcing teaching for a client who has a new prescription for warfarin. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

A. Reduced cardiac output: While liver disease can affect circulation in later stages, abnormal coagulation is a more immediate concern.

B. Abnormal coagulation: The liver plays a vital role in producing proteins essential for blood clotting. Liver damage can impair this function, leading to increased bleeding risk.

C. Electrolyte imbalance: The liver plays a role in some aspects of electrolyte balance, but abnormal coagulation is a more specific and critical complication in early liver damage.

D. Respiratory issues: While liver disease can progress to respiratory complications in severe cases, abnormal coagulation is a more immediate threat.

A. Have suction equipment at the bedside. Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet medication that inhibits blood clot formation. While it does not typically increase the risk of bleeding to the extent that requires constant suctioning, it's prudent to have suction equipment readily available for any patient who may be at risk of bleeding due to their underlying condition or concurrent medications. However, the administration of clopidogrel alone does not necessitate the need for constant suctioning.

B. Monitor the client for black, tarry stools. This is the correct answer. Clopidogrel, like other antiplatelet medications, increases the risk of bleeding, including gastrointestinal bleeding. Black, tarry stools can indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, which can be a serious complication of clopidogrel therapy. Therefore, monitoring for this symptom is essential for early detection of potential bleeding complications.

C. Administer the medication with each meal. Clopidogrel can be administered with or without food, as it is not significantly affected by food intake. However, there is no specific recommendation to administer it with meals. The timing of administration may vary based on the prescriber's instructions or patient preferences, but it does not need to be consistently administered with meals.

D. Initiate contact precautions. Clopidogrel therapy does not require contact precautions. Contact precautions are typically implemented for patients with contagious infections that spread via direct or indirect contact. Clopidogrel does not pose a risk of transmission to others and does not warrant contact precautions.