A Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Liver Failure $\mathrm{K}$

A nurse is caring for a patient with liver failure and is performing an assessment in the knowledge of the patients increased risk of bleeding. The nurse recognizes that this risk is related to the patients inability to synthesize prothrombin in the liver. What factor most likely contributes to this loss of function?

A) Alterations in glucose metabolism
B) Retention of bile salts
C) Inadequate production of albumin by hepatocytes
D) Inability of the liver to use vitamin $\mathrm{K}$