Question

The nurse is caring for a 76-year-old client who is receiving iv heparin 5000 units q4h. at the initiation of therapy, the patient's control activated thromboplastin time (aptt) was found to be 35 seconds. one hour prior to the next scheduled dose, aptt is determined to be 92 seconds. based on this result, the nurse will:

Answer 1

Based on the aptt result, the nurse should immediately discontinue injections of Heparin to the patient. The patient is already having abnormally high aptt of 92. High aptt exceeding 70 which in the case of the patient is 92 is an indication that he is on spontaneous bleeding or hemorrhage. The nurse must immediately report the result to the attending physician for management.