HESI RN CAT Exit Exam Related

Review HESI RN CAT Exit Exam related questions and content

A client who has a new prescription for warfarin (Coumadin) asks the nurse how the medication works. What explanation should the nurse provide?

  • A. It dissolves blood clots
  • B. It prevents the blood from clotting
  • C. It thins the blood
  • D. It decreases the risk of infection
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: It prevents the blood from clotting. Warfarin works as an anticoagulant by inhibiting the production of certain clotting factors in the liver. This prevents the formation of blood clots and reduces the risk of conditions like deep vein thrombosis or stroke. Choice A is incorrect because warfarin does not dissolve existing blood clots but prevents new ones. Choice C is misleading as it does not actually "thin" the blood but affects its ability to clot. Choice D is unrelated to the mechanism of action of warfarin.