A Patient Has Had Recent Mechanical Heart Valve Surgery and Is

Multiple Choice

A patient has had recent mechanical heart valve surgery and is receiving anticoagulant therapy. While monitoring the patient's laboratory work, the nurse interprets that the patient's international normalized ratio (INR) level of 3 indicates: which of these?

A) The patient is not receiving enough warfarin to have a therapeutic effect.
B) The patient's warfarin dose is at therapeutic levels.
C) The patient's intravenous heparin dose is dangerously high.
D) The patient's intravenous heparin dose is at therapeutic levels.