A patient diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism has been started on heparin therapy. The patient asks, "How long before the medicine dissolves my clot?" How should the nurse respond?
1. "It will be at least 3 days before your blood levels are high enough to start dissolving the clot.".
2. "Your body will dissolve and resorb the clot. The heparin is to help prevent additional clots.".
3. "As soon as you are given intravenous heparin, the clot will begin to dissolve.".
4. "The clot will never dissolve. The heparin is to help prevent other clots from forming.".
2
Rationale 1: Heparin does not dissolve clots.
Rationale 2: Heparin is administered to help prevent additional clots from forming.
Rationale 3: Heparin does not have clot-lysing ability.
Rationale 4: The body will dissolve and resorb the clot. The heparin helps prevent additional clot formation.
You might also like to view...
Pregnant clients can usually tolerate the normal blood loss associated with childbirth because they have:
a. a higher hematocrit. b. increased leukocytes. c. increased blood volume. d. a lower fibrinogen level.
The nurse is caring for a client who just returned to the unit from following colon surgery. The client has a new colostomy. When the nurse begins client teaching, what should the nurse advise this client to do?
A) Limit fluid to help control diarrhea. B) Increase fluid to replenish losses. C) Increase fat intake to slow gastrointestinal motility. D) Increase fiber intake because fiber absorbs water in the gut.
Medical control has ordered your paramedic partner, via two-way radio, to administer 40 mg of Lasix to a patient with congestive heart failure. You should anticipate that your partner will first:
A. determine the concentration of Lasix. B. document the order on her patient care form. C. administer the medication and document the time and dose. D. repeat the drug order to the physician as she heard it.
The nurse working in a custodial care facility walks into a room to administer medication and finds the client having a sexually intimate encounter with another client. The nurse's best action at this time is to:
1. Make a noise to indicate that the nurse is in the room, and wait for the clients to regain composure. 2. Call Security to investigate the matter. 3. Quietly leave the room and knock on the door. 4. Notify the RN supervisor and physician.