A new mother receives heparin. She asks the nurse if she can ...

[asmith134]

A new mother receives heparin. She asks the nurse if she can breastfeed her baby. What is the most therapeutic response by the nurse?
 
  1. No, because it would be too difficult to regulate your heparin dose.
  2. No, because this could cause your nipples to bleed.
  3. No, because this could alter your international normalized ratio (INR) times too much.
  4. No, because heparin will enter your breast milk.

Question 2

The patient receives an appropriate dose of warfarin (Coumadin), but the international normalized ratio (INR) is in the high range. The patient denies taking any aspirin products. What is the best assessment question to ask the patient at this time?
 
  1. Have you been eating much garlic?
  2. Have you been eating a lot of salads and vegetables?
  3. Have you been drinking too much milk?
  4. Are you restricting your fluids too much?

[reversalruiz]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale: Use of heparin during breastfeeding can trigger bleeding from the nipples and should be avoided. Heparin does not enter the breast milk. Breastfeeding would not alter the international normalized ratio (INR). Breastfeeding would not make it difficult to regulate the heparin dose.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale: Garlic has been shown to decrease the aggregation of platelets, thus producing an anticoagulant effect. Patients taking anticoagulant medications should limit their intake of garlic. Salads and vegetables contain vitamin K, which is an antidote for warfarin (Coumadin). This would not impact the international normalized ratio (INR). Milk does not impact the international normalized ratio (INR) when a patient receives warfarin (Coumadin). Dehydration does not impact the international normalized ratio (INR) when a patient receives warfarin (Coumadin).

[asmith134]

Thank you!

[reversalruiz]

Always glad to help...