A patient who received the thrombolytic drug alteplace (Activase) asks the nurse why continuous heparin is now infusing intravenously. What is the nurse's best response?
a. "There may be additional clots in your body and we want to be sure they are all dissolved."
b. "Once the clot is dissolved, heparin is given continuously to prevent any new clots from forming."
c. "The heparin finishes the job of dissolving the clot that the alteplace started."
d. "Heparin is infused continuously in case we need to give additional dosages of alteplase."
B
After thrombolytic therapy to dissolve an existing clot, anticoagulation with heparin prevents the formation of new clots.
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