A patient has a pulmonary embolism and asks the nurse to explain the purpose of the heparin infusion.What response by the nurse is best?
A)"It helps dissolve the clot in your lungs."
B)"It keeps you from getting septic."
C)"It prevents the clot from getting bigger."
D)"It prevents clots from forming in your heart."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Heparin prevents the clot from getting bigger by preventing new clots from forming. While it does not dissolve the existing clot, it does give the body time to start breaking it down on its own.

A Patient Has a Pulmonary Embolism and Asks the Nurse