A client has been diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis and is to be discharged on warfarin (Coumadin).The client is adamant about refusing the drug because "it's dangerous." What action by the nurse is best?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first step is to assess the reason behind the client's fear,which may be related to the experience of someone the client knows who took warfarin.If the nurse cannot address the specific rationale,teaching will likely be unsuccessful.Laboratory monitoring once every few weeks may not make the client perceive the drug to be safe.General statements like "drugs are safer today" do not address the root cause of the problem.Warning the client about possible consequences of not taking the drug is not therapeutic and is likely to lead to an adversarial relationship.

A Client Has Been Diagnosed with a Deep Vein Thrombosis