A nurse caring for a patient receiving heparin therapy notes that the patient has a heart rate of 98 beats per minute and a blood pressure of 110/72 mm Hg. The patient's fingertips are purplish in color. A stat CBC shows a platelet count of less than 100,000 mm³. The nurse will:

Question

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This patient is showing signs of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia,so the heparin should be discontinued immediately and the provider should be notified. The purplish color of the fingertips is caused by thrombosis,not hypoxia,so oxygen is not indicated. This patient may need continued anticoagulation therapy,so a request for protamine sulfate is not correct. Heparin is not a vitamin K inhibitor.

A Nurse Caring for a Patient Receiving Heparin Therapy Notes