ATI Capstone Exam 1 Related

Review ATI Capstone Exam 1 related questions and content

A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving a continuous IV infusion of heparin. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

  • A. Administer 50,000 units of heparin by IV bolus every 12 hours.
  • B. Have vitamin K available on the nursing unit.
  • C. Use tubing specific for heparin sodium when administering the infusion.
  • D. Check the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) every 6 hours.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Check the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) every 6 hours. This is crucial to monitor the therapeutic effect of heparin, ensuring the client's blood does not become too thin or too thick. Regular aPTT monitoring helps adjust the heparin infusion rate to maintain the desired anticoagulant effect.

Explanation of why other choices are incorrect:
A: Administering a large dose of heparin by IV bolus is dangerous and can lead to bleeding complications. Incorrect.
B: Having vitamin K available is not specifically related to managing heparin therapy. Incorrect.
C: Using tubing specific for heparin is important but is not the priority action in this scenario. Incorrect.