What is a common side effect of anticoagulants that nurses must monitor?

Anticoagulants, which help prevent blood clot formation, pose a significant risk of bleeding as a side effect. This is due to their mechanism of action, which inhibits various factors in the blood coagulation cascade. Because these medications interfere with the body’s ability to clot, patients on anticoagulants need to be closely monitored for signs of bleeding, which can manifest as easy bruising, prolonged bleeding from cuts, hematuria (blood in urine), or gastrointestinal bleeding. Recognizing and addressing these signs promptly is crucial to preventing severe complications.

While constipation, headaches, and nausea can occur with some medications, they are not specific side effects associated with anticoagulant therapy, making them less critical for monitoring compared to the potential for bleeding.