Is aspirin a blood thinner?

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When asking a patient if they're on blood thinners... does taking a daily baby 'aspirin' count? Thank you in advance

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Yes. It is.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Why yes. Yes it is.

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Why are people taking ASA 81 mg daily? What is the expected/desired effect?

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Sounds like homework?

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When asking a patient if they're on blood thinners... does taking a daily baby 'aspirin' count? Thank you in advance

Aspirin can thin the blood, but if you are specifically asking abt. Coumadin or Heparin then I would be specific. Plavix is an anti-platelet (not in same class as Coumadin), but prevent blood clotting. I would ask do you take Aspirin, Coumadin, etc..

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

Does anyone else strongly dislike the term "blood thinner"?

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Does anyone else strongly dislike the term "blood thinner"?

Yes, but it is a phrase that most people understand. If phrasing it that way gets me answers I'll use it. Kind of like how some people have "sugar" not diabetes.

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

It is all relative and what really matters is if your patient's think it is a blood thinner, not a bunch of nurses who know it is on the internet.

In other words you could ask one patient if they are on "blood thinners" and they may say no even if they are on aspirin and vise versa. It is best to ask if they take any medication including over the counter medications rather than picking one category.

Annie

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It is, and it does count.

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It's best not to assume that patients know 1) What you mean when you say "blood thinners" 2) Why they are taking any of their medications or what type of medications they are.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
Does anyone else strongly dislike the term "blood thinner"?

I usually ask if they're on any meds to prevent blood clots, and note the specific meds if the pt knows. (If they don't, I let the PharmD figure it out when s/he does their med rec.)

Daily ASA is typically taken for that reason, and when possible, surgeons typically advise when the ASA should be held prior to surgery. So yes, I would include it in the broad anticoagulant sense.

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