A nurse cares for a client of Asian descent who is prescribed warfarin (Coumadin).What action should the nurse perform first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Most individuals of Asian heritage have a single nucleotide polymorphism in the CYP2C19 gene that results in low activity of the enzyme produced.This mutation greatly reduces the metabolism of warfarin,leading to increased bleeding risks and other serious side effects.Any person of Asian heritage who needs anticoagulation therapy should be started on very low dosages of warfarin and should have his or her INR monitored more frequently.The nurse can always teach about the risk of bleeding and can monitor for any bruising.The priority action is for the nurse to check the prescription and confirm the dose prior to administering the medication.It is not necessary to initiate fall precautions and to limit activity based on the administration of warfarin.

A Nurse Cares for a Client of Asian Descent Who