The nurse notes that a patient with cardiac disease has intravenous (IV) heparin infusing and that it is behind by 2 hours. What is the best nursing action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Heparin is a high-alert medication used to prevent blood clots in patients with cardiac disease. The nurse should not increase the rate of infusion or discontinue the solution without first consulting with the healthcare provider. Changing the infusion rate to TKO is not appropriate as it would interrupt the therapeutic effect of the heparin. Therefore, the best nursing action is to contact the healthcare provider for consultation about how to manage the delayed infusion.

The Nurse Notes That a Patient with Cardiac Disease Has