Nurses Responsibilities of Safe Use of Anticoagulant Drugs

As the life span has been extended and new therapy options have been developed, an increase in chronic diseases and in the number of the drugs used in the treatment of these diseases has been seen. Anticoagulants have a particular place and significance in the treatment of chronic diseases in terms of frequency and period of usage and potential of side effects. Individuals using anticoagulant drugs which have vital side effects like hemorrhage, hematoma, thrombocytopenia should be particularly evaluated by healthcare personnel. Nurses are responsible for safe medication practices such as right medication, right patient, right method, right time and right dosage as well as monitoring the effects and side effects of the drugs. As from the moment start using the patient’s anticoagulant drugs, a nurse should inform the patient and patient’s family about the effects, side effects, the value of the drug in the blood monitoring, recording these values, controls, drug-drug and drug-food interactions, exercises and travelling and ensure that the patient uses the anticoagulant drugs safely.