NCLEX Chronic Illness Practice Questions Related

Review NCLEX Chronic Illness Practice Questions related questions and content

The nurse is discharging home a client at risk for venous thromboembolism on enoxaparin sodium. What instruction is a priority for the nurse to provide to this client?

  • A. Notify your health care provider if your stools appear dark or tarry
  • B. You must have your prothrombin time (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR) checked every 2 weeks
  • C. Massage the injection site after the heparin is injected
  • D. You must have your activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) checked every 72 hours
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin, thins blood dark, tarry stools signal GI bleed, a dire side effect needing instant reporting to halt hemorrhage. PT/INR tracks warfarin, not enoxaparin; aPTT's for unfractionated heparin. Massaging injection sites risks bruising. Nurses prioritize bleed watch, ensuring safety on this clot-busting med, a discharge must-know.