The nurse is reviewing the records of four patients on heparin therapy. Which patient does the nurse determine has the highest risk for a bleeding disorder during heparin therapy?

Question

a. A 10-year-old patient with an acute viral infection
b. A female patient who gave birth more than 6 weeks ago
c. A patient who takes a nonsteroidal antiin-flammatory drug
d. A 60-year-old patient with kidney stones

Answer 1

C
The patient who takes a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug has the highest risk of a bleeding disorder complicating heparin therapy because this classification of medication has known risk factors for bleeding, especially gastrointestinal bleeding. The patient who gave birth more than 6 weeks ago probably has the second highest risk. After 6 weeks' postpartum, involution is usually complete; thus hemorrhaging from the uterus is unlikely. The patients with the acute viral infec-tion and kidney stones have a lower risk of bleeding while on heparin.