Help with this Question re: heparin

[RunawayN]

Hello everybody, I was hoping someone could explain this question to me. Specially, "normal control?" I haven't heard of that before

The nurse should adjust a client's heparin dose according to a prescribed anticoagulation order based on maintaining which laboratory value at what therapeutic level for anticoagulant therapy?

A) Prothrombin time, 1.5 to 2.5 times the normal control.

B) Partial thromboplastin time, 1.5 to 2.5 times the normal control.

C) International Normalized Ratio, 2 to 3 seconds.

D) Thrombin clotting time, 10 to 15 seconds.

I choose D because it was the closest to Thrombin clotting time but the answer is B.

Rational: The nurse should adjust the heparin dose to maintain the client's partial thromboplastin time between 1.5 and 2.5 times the normal control. The prothrombin time and INR are used to maintain therapeutic levels of Warfarin, oral anticoagulation therapy. The thrombin clotting time is use to confirm DIC.

[pumpkinspice555]

Is this suppose to be an application question?

[obloom14]

PTT level is the lab value you check when given Heparin. And normal control would mean its normal range

[RunawayN]

PTT level is the lab value you check when given Heparin. And normal control would mean its normal range

And by rules of heparin: it should always be normal control plus 1.5-2.5x?

[obloom14]

Like I said PTT is the lab value for Heparin... so that means the desired PTT levels are :1.5-2.5 X the normal PTT value. It's usually 25-45 seconds it depends on what source is being used.

[RunawayN]

Like I said PTT is the lab value for Heparin... so that means the desired PTT levels are :1.5-2.5 X the normal PTT value. It's usually 25-45 seconds it depends on what source is being used.

Oh I got it now. So basic ... Le sigh

Thanks!!

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

PTT is the only measure in this question that you use to measure heparin's efficacy. Remember it like this: Ptt- the two t's together tt almost look like an H, so you can remember that this is the value you use for heparin. PT/INR is for coumadin.

[RunawayN]

PTT is the only measure in this question that you use to measure heparin's efficacy. Remember it like this: Ptt- the two t's together tt almost look like an H, so you can remember that this is the value you use for heparin. PT/INR is for coumadin.

That's awesome. Thanks.

ptt - heparin.