Which of these statements, if made by a client who is receiving warfarin (Coumadin), should indicate to the nurse that the client understands the medication instructions?

• A. I will shave with an electric razor.
• B. I will increase my intake of green vegetables.
• C. I will use unwaxed dental floss twice daily.
• D. I will decrease my daily dose if I feel fatigued.

Answer: (A)

On warfarin, the main idea is to minimize bleeding risk while keeping anticoagulation in a safe range. The statement that best demonstrates understanding is choosing an option that reduces the chance of skin injury and bleeding.

Shaving with an electric razor lowers the risk of nicks and bleeding compared with a blade, which is especially important when clotting is impaired by warfarin. This shows the patient is thinking about safety and bleeding prevention.

Increasing intake of green vegetables would raise vitamin K, which can counteract warfarin and disrupt INR control, making it harder to stay in the therapeutic range. That option indicates a misunderstanding of how diet affects the medication.

Using unwaxed dental floss is generally fine, but it doesn’t specifically reflect a safety adaptation related to bleeding risk on anticoagulation.

Decreasing the daily dose if fatigued is unsafe because dosing decisions should be guided by a clinician, not by how someone feels, and self-adjustment can lead to serious clotting or bleeding risks.