NCLEX® Question of the Day: Heparin Infusion Laboratory Findings

Today’s NCLEX-RN® question of the day focuses on a client receiving a heparin infusion.

When evaluating the therapeutic response for a client receiving a heparin infusion, which laboratory results should the nurse monitor?

A. Complete blood count (CBC)

B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)

C. International normalized ratio (INR)

D. Prothrombin time (PT)

Scroll down for the correct answer!

→ Reinforce your understanding with more self-assessment items on Osmosis Prime. 

The correct answer to today’s NCLEX-RN® Question is…

B. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)

Rationale: When caring for a client who is receiving heparin, the nurse should monitor the aPTT to evaluate medication effectiveness. The aPTT evaluates the intrinsic and final common pathways of the coagulation cascade that are affected by heparin. Both PT, which affects the extrinsic and final common pathways, and INR, which affects the extrinsic pathway, are used to evaluate the effectiveness of warfarin therapy.

Major Takeaway

When caring for a client who is receiving heparin, the nurse should monitor the aPTT to evaluate medication effectiveness.

Incorrect Answer Explanations

A. Complete blood count (CBC)

Rationale: Heparin is an anticoagulant, so a CBC will not provide the nurse information to evaluate a therapeutic response to heparin.

C. International normalized ratio (INR)

Rationale: The INR is used to monitor clients who are taking warfarin.

D. Prothrombin time (PT)

Rationale: PT is used to evaluate the effectiveness of warfarin therapy.

Reference

Burchum, J. R., & Rosenthal, L. D. (2019). Lehne’s pharmacology for nursing care (10th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Want more NCLEX®-style practice questions? Try Osmosis today! Get your free trial and discover why millions of current and future clinicians and caregivers love learning with us.