What is the main action of anticoagulant drugs?
To dissolve the existing clots.
To transport platelets.
To act as a fibrinolytic agent.
To prevent further clots from forming.
The Correct Answer is D
Anticoagulant drugs are medicines that prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger.
They do not dissolve existing clots or transport platelets. They work by interfering with different steps of the blood coagulation pathway, which is the process that leads to clot formation.
Choice A is wrong because anticoagulant drugs do not dissolve existing clots.
To dissolve clots, you need fibrinolytic drugs, which break down the fibrin mesh that holds the clots together.
Choice B is wrong because anticoagulant drugs do not transport platelets.
Platelets are blood cells that stick together to form clots.
Anticoagulant drugs may affect the function of platelets, but they do not move them around.
Choice C is wrong because anticoagulant drugs do not act as fibrinolytic agents.
Fibrinolytic agents are drugs that activate plasmin, an enzyme that breaks down fibrin.
Anticoagulant drugs may inhibit the formation of fibrin, but they do not break it down.
Some examples of anticoagulant drugs are warfarin, heparin, and factor Xa inhibitors.
The normal ranges for some blood tests that measure the effects of anticoagulants are:
• Prothrombin time (PT): 11 to 13.5 seconds
• International normalized ratio (INR): 0.8 to 1.2
• Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT): 25 to 35 seconds
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein, which is a type of cholesterol that carries excess cholesterol from other parts of the body to the liver, where it can be removed.
HDL is sometimes called “good” cholesterol because it helps protect against heart disease.Having high HDL levels is not a characteristic of metabolic syndrome, but rather a protective factor.
Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.These conditions include:
• Low HDLs (choice A): Having low levels of HDL cholesterol is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome, as it means there is less “good” cholesterol to remove excess cholesterol from the blood vessels.
• Type II diabetes mellitus (choice B): This is a condition where the body does not use insulin properly, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Insulin is a hormone that helps the cells take up glucose from the blood.
Insulin resistance is a key feature of metabolic syndrome.
• Hypertension (choice C): This means having high blood pressure, which can damage the heart and blood vessels over time.
High blood pressure is often associated with obesity and insulin resistance, which are common in metabolic syndrome.
• Abdominal obesity (choice E): This means having excess fat around the waist and trunk, also known as central or visceral obesity.
This type of fat is more harmful than fat in other parts of the body, as it can release inflammatory substances that affect the metabolism and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Hyperglycemia (choice F): This means having high blood sugar levels, which can damage the blood vessels and organs over time.
Hyperglycemia can result from insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, which are both components of metabolic syndrome.
The normal ranges for some of these conditions are:
• HDL cholesterol: more than 40 mg/dL for men and more than 50 mg/dL for women
• Blood pressure: less than 120/80 mmHg
• Blood sugar: less than 100 mg/dL after fasting or less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating
• Waist circumference: less than 40 inches for men and less than 35 inches for women
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Digoxin is a medication that can help the heart pump more blood and slow down the heart rate in certain conditions, such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation.However, digoxin has a narrow therapeutic range, which means that too much or too little of it can be harmful.The therapeutic range of digoxin levels in the blood is 0.5-2 ng/mL, and the toxic level is >2.4 ng/mL.Digoxin should be held if the resting apical pulse of an infant is <90 bpm, an older child is <70 bpm, or an adult is <60 bpm.A pulse of 48/min in an adult is too low and could indicate digoxin toxicity, which can cause life-threatening arrhythmias. Therefore, the nurse should withhold the dose and notify the health care provider immediately.
Choice B is wrong because notifying the health care provider and monitoring the patient’s vital signs are not enough.
The nurse should also withhold the dose to prevent further exposure to digoxin.
Choice C is wrong because rechecking the pulse, making sure to count for 1 full minute, is not necessary.The nurse should already have counted the pulse for 1 full minute before administering digoxin, as per standard procedure.
Choice D is wrong because administering the dose could worsen the patient’s condition and increase the risk of digoxin toxicity and arrhythmias.
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