A Patient Diagnosed with a Pulmonary Embolism Has Been Started

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?

A) "It will be at least 3 days before your blood levels are high enough to start dissolving the clot."
B) "Your body will dissolve and resorb the clot. The heparin is to help prevent additional clots."
C) "As soon as you are given intravenous heparin, the clot will begin to dissolve."
D) "The clot will never dissolve. The heparin is to help prevent other clots from forming."