Which laboratory value is important to monitor in a client taking anticoagulants?

Monitoring the International Normalized Ratio (INR) is crucial for clients taking anticoagulants, such as warfarin. The INR measures the time it takes for blood to clot and compares it to an average. It helps ensure that the anticoagulant is being dosed correctly to prevent clotting or excessive bleeding.

For patients on anticoagulants, maintaining the INR within a therapeutic range is essential to balance the risk of bleeding with the need to prevent clot-related complications. If the INR is too low, there is an increased risk of thrombotic events (like strokes), whereas if it is too high, there is a significant risk of bleeding.

While potassium levels, hemoglobin levels, and white blood cell counts can be important in various contexts, they are not the primary values monitored specifically to manage the effects of anticoagulant therapy. Potassium levels could be monitored if a patient is at risk for hyperkalemia from certain anticoagulants, hemoglobin levels are monitored for anemia which could result from bleeding, and white blood cell counts are related to infection risk, but these are not direct indicators of the effectiveness or safety of anticoagulant therapy.