Which serum laboratory test is most important for the nurse to monitor when administering enoxaparin to a client?
Protein and albumin.
Complete blood count (CBC).
BUN and creatinine.
Electrolytes.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Protein and albumin reflect nutritional or liver status but are unaffected by enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin inhibiting factor Xa. These do not monitor anticoagulation effects or complications like bleeding. CBC is critical, as enoxaparin increases bleeding risk, requiring platelet and hemoglobin monitoring to detect serious hematological issues.
Choice B reason: Enoxaparin, an anticoagulant, heightens bleeding risk and can cause thrombocytopenia. Monitoring CBC, especially platelets and hemoglobin, detects heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) or hemorrhage. This ensures early identification of complications, allowing timely intervention to prevent severe bleeding or thrombosis, making CBC the most critical test for safe administration.
Choice C reason: BUN and creatinine assess renal function, relevant for renally cleared drugs, but enoxaparin is primarily liver-metabolized. Renal monitoring is secondary unless severe impairment exists. CBC is more urgent, as enoxaparin’s anticoagulant effect increases bleeding risk, necessitating hematological surveillance to prevent life-threatening complications.
Choice D reason: Electrolytes like potassium or sodium are not directly affected by enoxaparin’s action on the coagulation cascade. Imbalances may occur in critical illness but are not primary concerns. CBC monitoring for bleeding or thrombocytopenia is critical, as enoxaparin’s anti-Xa activity poses hematological risks requiring immediate attention.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Discontinuing the nasal cannula is inappropriate, as 94% SpO₂ indicates mild hypoxemia from pneumonia, requiring oxygen to support alveolar diffusion. The rash likely results from cannula pressure, not oxygen delivery. Padding addresses the rash without compromising respiratory support, ensuring continued therapy.
Choice B reason: Decreasing to 1 L/minute may worsen hypoxemia in pneumonia, where inflamed alveoli impair gas exchange (SpO₂ 94%). The rash is from mechanical irritation, not flow rate. Padding relieves pressure, maintaining oxygen delivery to improve saturation, making flow reduction counterproductive to respiratory needs.
Choice C reason: Applying lubricant reduces friction but not pressure causing the red macular rash from prolonged cannula contact. Lubricants risk aspiration. Padding alleviates pressure points, preventing skin breakdown while maintaining oxygen for pneumonia, addressing the rash’s mechanical cause more effectively than lubrication.
Choice D reason: Placing padding around the cannula tubing relieves pressure on the cheek, preventing skin breakdown from the red macular rash. This maintains oxygen at 3 L/minute, critical for pneumonia’s hypoxemia, where inflamed alveoli reduce oxygen diffusion. Padding ensures skin integrity and respiratory support, addressing both issues effectively.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Strict bedrest is not indicated for urolithiasis, as movement may aid stone passage by shifting ureteral dynamics. Severe flank pain from ureteral obstruction causes muscle spasms. Straining urine collects stones for analysis, identifying composition to guide treatment, making bedrest less critical than addressing the stone.
Choice B reason: Limiting fluid intake is contraindicated, as high fluids promote urine flow, aiding stone passage and diluting urinary solutes like calcium. Pain results from obstruction, and straining urine identifies stone type. Fluid restriction increases stone formation risk, making this harmful and counterproductive to urolithiasis management.
Choice C reason: Straining all urine collects stones for analysis, determining composition (e.g., calcium oxalate) to guide dietary and pharmacological prevention. Severe flank pain from ureteral obstruction highlights the need for stone identification. This addresses the pathophysiological cause, enabling tailored interventions to prevent recurrence and manage acute symptoms.
Choice D reason: A high-calcium diet is inappropriate, as most kidney stones are calcium-based. Dietary calcium moderation, based on stone analysis from straining urine, prevents recurrence. Pain management requires stone identification, not increased calcium intake, which could exacerbate stone formation, making this counterproductive for urolithiasis.
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