Which action should the nurse perform while the client is on IV heparin?
A nurse or other health professional will teach you how to prepare the medicine and give the shot. The provider will watch you practice and answer your questions. You may take notes to remember the details. Keep this sheet as a reminder of what you need to do. Show
Getting ReadyTo get prepared:
Filling the SyringeFollow these steps to fill the syringe with heparin:
Giving the ShotWash your hands with soap and water. Dry them well. Choose where to give the shot. Keep a chart of places you have used, so you do not put the heparin in the same place all the time. Ask your provider for a chart.
The site you choose for the injection should be clean and dry. If your skin is visibly dirty, clean it with soap and water. Or use an alcohol wipe. Allow the skin to dry before giving the shot. The heparin needs to go into the fat layer under the skin.
After all the medicine is in, leave the needle in for 5 seconds. Pull the needle out at the same angle it went in. Put the syringe down and press the shot site with a piece of gauze for a few seconds. Do not rub. If it bleeds or oozes, hold it longer. Throw away the needle and syringe in a safe hard container (sharps container). Close the container, and keep it safely away from children and animals. Never reuse needles or syringes. Write down the date, time, and place on the body where you put the injection. Storing Your Heparin and SuppliesAsk your pharmacist how to store your heparin so it stays potent. Alternative NamesDVT - heparin shot; Deep venous thrombosis - heparin shot; PE - heparin shot; Pulmonary embolism - heparin shot; Blood thinner - heparin shot; Anticoagulant - heparin shot ReferencesSmith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Aebersold M, Gonzalez L. Medication administration. In: Smith SF, Duell DJ, Martin BC, Aebersold M, Gonzalez L, eds. Clinical Nursing Skills: Basic to Advanced Skills. 9th ed. Hoboken, NJ: Pearson; 2017:chap 18. Review Date 7/13/2020Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. What are nursing considerations when intravenous heparin?Nursing Interventions
Withdraw the needle immediately, and apply prolonged pressure at the injection site. Avoid applying heat/cold or massaging the injection site. Rotate sites in subcutaneous injection. Avoid the IM route for injections due to the risk of hematoma.
What are 3 nursing considerations when caring for a client on heparin therapy?If this must be done, ensure drug compatibility. Provide for safety measures (electric razor, soft toothbrush) to prevent injury from bleeding. Check for signs of bleeding; monitor blood tests. Alert all health care providers of heparin use.
What should you monitor during heparin treatment?Laboratory monitoring is widely recommended to measure the anticoagulant effect of unfractionated heparin and to adjust the dose to maintain levels in the target therapeutic range. The most widely used laboratory assay for monitoring unfractionated heparin therapy is the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).
What should you check before giving heparin?Before giving an injection of heparin, check the package label to make sure it is the strength of heparin solution that your doctor prescribed for you. If the strength of heparin is not correct do not use the heparin and call your doctor or pharmacist right away.
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