If a patient on anticoagulants reports dark-colored urine, what should the nurse do?

If a patient on anticoagulants reports dark-colored urine, what should the nurse do?

• A. Report it as normal
• B. Immediately notify a physician
• C. Reassure the patient it's a common side effect
• D. Perform a urinalysis

Answer: (B)

When a patient on anticoagulants reports dark-colored urine, it is critical for the nurse to immediately notify a physician. Dark urine can be an indication of significant issues such as hematuria (presence of blood in urine) or other underlying conditions that could suggest complications related to anticoagulant therapy, such as bleeding or liver dysfunction. Since anticoagulants increase the risk of bleeding, any signs that may suggest bleeding should be taken seriously and reported promptly to ensure appropriate medical evaluation and intervention. Timely communication with a physician allows for further assessment and necessary diagnostic tests to be ordered, ensuring patient safety and proper management of their anticoagulant therapy. Dark urine could also stem from other non-bleeding-related conditions, but the urgency in reporting underlines the potential implications of the patient’s medication regimen.

When a patient on anticoagulants reports dark-colored urine, it is critical for the nurse to immediately notify a physician. Dark urine can be an indication of significant issues such as hematuria (presence of blood in urine) or other underlying conditions that could suggest complications related to anticoagulant therapy, such as bleeding or liver dysfunction. Since anticoagulants increase the risk of bleeding, any signs that may suggest bleeding should be taken seriously and reported promptly to ensure appropriate medical evaluation and intervention.

Timely communication with a physician allows for further assessment and necessary diagnostic tests to be ordered, ensuring patient safety and proper management of their anticoagulant therapy. Dark urine could also stem from other non-bleeding-related conditions, but the urgency in reporting underlines the potential implications of the patient’s medication regimen.