NCLEX RN Practice Question # 921
NCLEX Examination.
Practice Question # 921.
nclex examination
Heparin Pharmacological Review
Generic Name
- Heparin
Trade Name
- Hep-Lock
Properties of Heparins and warfarin. | ||
Property | Heparins | Warfarin |
Structure | Large acidic polysaccharide polymers | Small lipid-soluble molecule |
Route of administration | Parenteral | Oral |
Site of action | Blood | Liver |
Onset of action | Rapid (minutes) | Slow (days); limited by half-lives of preexisting normal factors |
Mechanism of action | Activates antithrombin III, which proteolyzes coagulation factors including thrombin and factor Xa | Impairs post-translational modification of factors II, VII, IX and X |
Monitoring | aPTT for unfractionated heparin but not LMW heparins | Prothrombin time |
Antidote | Protamine for unfractionated heparin; protamine reversal of LMW heparins is incomplete | Vitamin K1, plasma, prothrombin complex concentrates |
Use | Mostly acute, over days | Chronic, over weeks to months |
Use in pregnancy | Yes | No |
Indication
- Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and treatment, low dose used to ensure patency of IV catheters
Action
- Increases the inhibitory effect of antithrombin on factor Xa
Therapeutic Class
- Anticoagulant
Pharmacologic Class
- Antithrombotic
Nursing Considerations
- Monitor for signs of bleeding
- Monitor platelet count
- May cause hyperkalemia
- Have patient report any signs of bleeding