A client has been prescribed an anticoagulant, and asks the nurse to explain why this medication has been prescribed. Which response by the nurse is the most appropriate?

Question

1. "These medications are used to prevent the formation of clots."
2. "These medications inhibit the normal removal of fibrin, thus keeping the clot in place for a longer period of time."
3. "These medications are used to dissolve such life-threatening clots."
4. "These medications are used to prevent clot formation in arteries."

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 1

Rationale 1: Regardless of the mechanism, all anticoagulant drugs will increase the normal time the body takes to form clots. These drugs are often referred to as blood thinners, which is an incorrect term, because they do not change the thickness of the blood.
Rationale 2: "These medications inhibit the normal removal of fibrin, thus keeping the clot in place for a longer period of time" is incorrect because this describes hemostatics.
Rationale 3: "These medications are used to dissolve such life-threatening clots" is incorrect because this describes a thrombolytic.
Rationale 4: "These medications are used to prevent clot formation in arteries" is incorrect because this refers to antiplatelets.

Global Rationale: Regardless of the mechanism, all anticoagulant drugs will increase the normal time the body takes to form clots. These drugs are often referred to as blood thinners, which is an incorrect term, because they do not change the thickness of the blood. "These medications inhibit the normal removal of fibrin, thus keeping the clot in place for a longer period of time" is incorrect because this describes hemostatics. "These medications are used to dissolve such life-threatening clots" is incorrect because this describes a thrombolytic. "These medications are used to prevent clot formation in arteries" is incorrect because this refers to antiplatelets.