When caring for a client on warfarin, which additional lab value should be monitored?

When a client is on warfarin, monitoring the International Normalized Ratio (INR) is crucial. Warfarin is an anticoagulant, meaning it works to prevent blood clots by inhibiting vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. The INR is a standardized way of measuring how long it takes for blood to clot. For patients on warfarin, maintaining the INR within a specific therapeutic range is essential to balance the risks of clotting versus bleeding. Typically, the target INR for most conditions treated with warfarin falls between 2.0 and 3.0, although some conditions may require a higher range.

By regularly monitoring the INR, healthcare providers can adjust the warfarin dosage as necessary to ensure the client remains within the desired range. This helps to prevent complications such as deep vein thrombosis (DVTs) or pulmonary embolism (PE), while also minimizing the risk of excessive bleeding or hemorrhage.

The other lab values listed, while important in their respective contexts, do not specifically correlate with the anticoagulation effects of warfarin. Blood glucose is mainly monitored in diabetic patients, amylase levels are related to pancreatic function, and calcium levels are important for various metabolic processes but are not directly influenced