Question

When administering heparin anticoagulant therapy, the nurse needs to make certain that the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is within the therapeutic range of:

a) 1.5 to 2.5 times the baseline control.
b) 2.5 to 3.0 times the baseline control.
c) 3.5 times the baseline control.
d) 4.5 times the baseline control.

Answer 1

The therapeutic range for aPTT in heparin therapy is typically 1.5 to 2.5 times the baseline control, reflecting the nurse's need to maintain appropriate anticoagulation levels and patient safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

When administering heparin anticoagulant therapy, it is crucial for the nurse to ensure that the patient's activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is within the therapeutic range to prevent excessive bleeding or clotting. The aPTT measures the effectiveness of the intrinsic and common pathways of the coagulation cascade. The therapeutic range for aPTT when a patient is on heparin is typically 1.5 to 2.5 times the baseline control, which is the normal aPTT value without anticoagulant therapy. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is a) 1.5 to 2.5 times the baseline control.