Transcript for NCSBN Learning Extension’s Question Dissection®
Podcast
Website: learningext.com/students/student_resources/b/questiondissection/default.aspx
July 23, 2013
[Intro Music]
Andrea: Welcome to our Question Dissection podcast. Sue, our review course
instructor, will be dissecting this week's NCLEX style question, posted every
Monday on learningext.com and Facebook. These questions come straight from
our NCLEX RN review course.
The question for the week of July 22 is:
A client on warfarin (Coumadin) therapy after coronary artery stent placement
calls the clinic to ask: "Can I take Alka-Seltzer for an upset stomach?" What is the
best response by the nurse?
1. "Use about half the recommended dose of Alka-Seltzer."
2. "Take Alka-Seltzer at a different time of day than you take the warfarin
(Coumadin)."
3. "Avoid Alka-Seltzer because it contains aspirin."
4. "Select another antacid that does not inactivate warfarin (Coumadin)."
Let’s begin the Question Dissection.
Sue: Warfarin is an anticoagulant and is used to prevent and treat blood clots. It is
commonly used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and heart-valve disease or
heart-valve replacement.
A lot of medications interact with warfarin, making it either less or more effective.
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Question Dissection Podcast Transcript for NCSBN Learning Extension’s NCLEX Review |
NCSBN Learning Extension | learningext.com | Copyright 2013 National Council of State Boards
of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) Medications that have similar effects on the blood as warfarin include herbal
supplements, such as garlic, gingko, ginseng, and ginger as well as nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin.
The thing about aspirin is that it is found in lots of different over-the-counter
products, such as Pepto-Bismol, Alka-Seltzer®, Kaopectate, Bayer Cold and Flu,
NyQuil®, and Excedrin®. So clients should not take Alka-Seltzer® when they are
also taking warfarin – this is the correct response.
Don’t be confused by the statement that says to “select another antacid that does
not inactivate warfarin”. The first part of this sentence is correct, but the second
clause is incorrect… because the aspirin in Alka-Seltzer® will potentiate, not
inactivate, the action of warfarin.
Also, be sure to point that the client should not take cimetidine (Tagamet®), for
heartburn, since this medication can decrease the action of warfarin.
Andrea: That's great Sue! Thanks so much for talking with us today. For all you
listening, if you have any questions please post them in our online community, at
learningext.com. And remember to catch our next podcast August 6.
[Outro Music]
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Question Dissection Podcast Transcript for NCSBN Learning Extension’s NCLEX Review |
NCSBN Learning Extension | learningext.com | Copyright 2013 National Council of State Boards
of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN)