Anticoagulation services.

CEREBROVASCULAR disease prevention; WARFARIN; ATRIAL fibrillation; AUDITING; BLOOD coagulation factors; BLOOD coagulation tests; PROSTHETIC heart valves; MEDICAL office nursing; MEDICAL protocols; NURSING assessment; PATIENT safety; PRIMARY health care; SELF-evaluation; VENOUS thrombosis; VITAMIN K; WORLD Wide Web; INFORMATION resources; DRUG therapy; EQUIPMENT & supplies

The article offers tips to practice nurses on providing anticoagulation services to British patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Most British patients on anticoagulant therapy take warfarin. The age of the patient is considered in the use of mechanical and bioprosthetic heart valves in Great Britain. Patients with bioprosthetic valves who have AF should receive lifelong oral anticoagulation. Careful monitoring and dose adjustment are required to prevent over- or under-anticoagulation.