HHRN22

You did answer my question! I appreciate it! I am so glad i signed up here to have other people's input on stuff like this! Thank you! :)

We draw serum PT/INR levels for patients in injectables per MD orders. But when they are done with the injectables and will solely be on the Coumadin, that's what we are trying to come up with a protocol for our agency as to when our nurses should do a venipuncture or use a portable when our patients have finished the last dose of their injectable(either concurrent with PO Coumadin or with just the injectables alone) so MDs know whether to extend the injectables or not.(homehealth setting ,btw) :) We have been waiting 5-7hrs after the last dose of the injectable before we draw their PT/INR level via portable unit. But I was just wondering if there were any other protocols/parameters out there that I didn't know about. Glad to know we've been doing it right waiting 5-7hrs(given that halflife is 4.5hrs for lovenox)! Thanks again for the reply! :)

Yeah, i am new to allnurses & i accidentally posted the thread in this section! :) Anyway, i am referring to both--concurrent coumadin& injectable therapy and resuming coumadin after injectables. So far i have an answer of waiting til halflife of lovenox which is 4.5hrs. Any other answers would be appreciated! :)

Thank you all for your replies! That's what I have been instructing our home health nurses (but I wasn't quite sure) to wait at least 5-7hrs from last dose of lovenox/arixtra just to be sure that the results taken via portable INR machine is accurate. To mama_d... Heparin does not need monitoring but for the other injectables, PT/INR levels are still monitored(at least that's what the MDs we work with wants--they order PT/INR levels). It may not be the case for all patients on these meds. :)

Well, when we have patients on Coumadin, we use the portable machines to check their INR levels. But when they are on injectable blood thinners then we do venipuncture to check serum PT/INR levels. I would like to know HOW LONG since the last dose of an injectable blood thinner can we obtain a fingerstick INR to ensure that the results are accurate? 5 hrs? 7hrs? 12hrs?24hrs? Or do we draw a serum level until when??

I have been looking for a definite answer for this one but having no luck! I would like to know how long do we wait to do a fingerstick INR via portable unit to test a patient's level after the last dose of an injectable Blood thinner(lovenox, arixtra,etc)? We do not use the portable units while patients' are on injectables but wonders how long we should wait to use the portable units and get ACCURATe results. Thanks!

I think the times have changed and the STIGMA of being labeled as GAY if you're in nursing has subsided. Although it should not matter what a person's sexuality is, as long as they are able to perform the duties and responsibilities of whatever profession they chose! By the way, My husband and I went to nursing school at the same time and there were instances that people thought he is BUT most of the time, girls come up to him and flirts thinking he's a good catch for being in this course=$$$!!!(sorry for the other girls coz we were already married before nursing school! Lol)

I have been looking for a definite answer for this one but having no luck! I would like to know how long do we wait to do a fingerstick INR via portable unit to test a patient's level after the last dose of an injectable Blood thinner(lovenox, arixtra,etc)? We do not use the portable units while patients' are on injectables but wonders how long we should wait to use the portable units and get ACCURATe results. Thanks!