What does a nurse need to monitor for a patient receiving anticoagulants?

When a patient is receiving anticoagulants, monitoring for signs of bleeding and laboratory values is crucial. Anticoagulants are medications that help prevent blood clots but can increase the risk of bleeding because they interfere with the blood's ability to clot. Therefore, it is vital for the nurse to observe for clinical signs of bleeding, such as unusual bruising, blood in urine or stool, or prolonged bleeding from cuts.

Additionally, regular monitoring of laboratory values, such as prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), is essential to ensure that anticoagulation therapy is within the therapeutic range. This monitoring helps prevent complications from over-anticoagulation, which can lead to severe bleeding.

By focusing on these aspects, the nurse can provide safe and effective care for patients on anticoagulants and mitigate potential risks associated with these medications.