1
NUR 210
NUR 210/ NUR210 Exam 3 (2025/ 2026
Update)| Questions & Answers| Grade A|
100% Correct (Verified Solutions)
1. What can start a clot and what can we do to get rid of it?:
Cause: -injury to blood vessel
-tissue damage
Get rid of it:
-Drugs
2. What does Heparin do?: -Rapid acting anticoagulant
-Heparin does not dissolve a clot - it prevents future clots from forming
so it is considered a prophylactic (preventative) medicine.
-prevents clot from getting bigger
3. What are the indications for Heparin?: • DVT - deep vein
thrombosis
• PE- pulmonary embolism
• CVA
NUR 210
,• MI
• Pregnancy
-sometimes women need to be on bedrest. Heparin does not cross the
placental barrier so it is safe.
4. What is the mechanism of action for Heparin? (how is it
given, where is it absorbed, what is it like): •Parenterally only
•Not absorbed in GI tract
•Very acid solution
•Large molecule
•Rapid acting
-Heparin is extremely effective and acts immediately if you give it IV. It
cannot be given orally because it is not absorbed by the GI tract. It can
only be given subq or IV. If given IV it has to be given in a separate IV
as it is a very acidic solution. We do NOT give it IM as it will cause
bleeding in the muscle.
5. How is Heparin dosed?: Heparin is dosed in units (like
insulin) not mg or ml. But you do not use an insulin syringe, just a
regular one.
, 3
NUR 210
6. What are the pharmacokinetics of Heparin?
(metabolized where, eliminated where, what is the half life like,
protein): •Metabolized in the liver
-If liver doesn't work well, it lasts longer in the body
•Eliminated via kidney
-If kidneys don't work, then build up of heparin
-If Heparin is eliminated in the kidney - if your patient has renal failure
the dosage may be decreased.
•Short half life
-If you stop it, effects wear of quickly
•Highly protein
bound -Like
albumin
-Have to know what pt's albumin level is to make sure there is enough
protein for the heparin to bind to so that there isn't a ton of heparin
floating around causing bleeding
7. What are the ADRs of Heparin?: • Hemorrhage
NUR 210
, • Osteoporosis
-but would be high dosage for more than 3 months
• HIT( heparin induced thrombocytopenia)
-Thrombo = clot
Cyto = cell
Allergic response that heparin causes body to break down their
platelets
-HIT is actually an allergic reaction that a body has to the heparin and
the antibodies start destroying platelets. This affects 1-3% of patients
and can occur early in therapy or up to 5 days after therapy. It reverses
within 3-5 days of discontinuing the heparin -Remember the side
effects are too much of a good thing - so the most likely side effect of
Heparin is bleeding! Or hemorrhage. Usually it is minor - a nose bleed,
some blood in the urine, or skin tears that will not stop bleeding. Major
bleeding (about 2% of cases) would be in the GI tract or in the brain.
8. What are the nursing implications for Heparin? (for IV and
subq): •Intravenous injection: Continuous, Intermittent (bolus)
•Do not mix with other IV medications
NUR 210
NUR 210/ NUR210 Exam 3 (2025/ 2026
Update)| Questions & Answers| Grade A|
100% Correct (Verified Solutions)
1. What can start a clot and what can we do to get rid of it?:
Cause: -injury to blood vessel
-tissue damage
Get rid of it:
-Drugs
2. What does Heparin do?: -Rapid acting anticoagulant
-Heparin does not dissolve a clot - it prevents future clots from forming
so it is considered a prophylactic (preventative) medicine.
-prevents clot from getting bigger
3. What are the indications for Heparin?: • DVT - deep vein
thrombosis
• PE- pulmonary embolism
• CVA
NUR 210
,• MI
• Pregnancy
-sometimes women need to be on bedrest. Heparin does not cross the
placental barrier so it is safe.
4. What is the mechanism of action for Heparin? (how is it
given, where is it absorbed, what is it like): •Parenterally only
•Not absorbed in GI tract
•Very acid solution
•Large molecule
•Rapid acting
-Heparin is extremely effective and acts immediately if you give it IV. It
cannot be given orally because it is not absorbed by the GI tract. It can
only be given subq or IV. If given IV it has to be given in a separate IV
as it is a very acidic solution. We do NOT give it IM as it will cause
bleeding in the muscle.
5. How is Heparin dosed?: Heparin is dosed in units (like
insulin) not mg or ml. But you do not use an insulin syringe, just a
regular one.
, 3
NUR 210
6. What are the pharmacokinetics of Heparin?
(metabolized where, eliminated where, what is the half life like,
protein): •Metabolized in the liver
-If liver doesn't work well, it lasts longer in the body
•Eliminated via kidney
-If kidneys don't work, then build up of heparin
-If Heparin is eliminated in the kidney - if your patient has renal failure
the dosage may be decreased.
•Short half life
-If you stop it, effects wear of quickly
•Highly protein
bound -Like
albumin
-Have to know what pt's albumin level is to make sure there is enough
protein for the heparin to bind to so that there isn't a ton of heparin
floating around causing bleeding
7. What are the ADRs of Heparin?: • Hemorrhage
NUR 210
, • Osteoporosis
-but would be high dosage for more than 3 months
• HIT( heparin induced thrombocytopenia)
-Thrombo = clot
Cyto = cell
Allergic response that heparin causes body to break down their
platelets
-HIT is actually an allergic reaction that a body has to the heparin and
the antibodies start destroying platelets. This affects 1-3% of patients
and can occur early in therapy or up to 5 days after therapy. It reverses
within 3-5 days of discontinuing the heparin -Remember the side
effects are too much of a good thing - so the most likely side effect of
Heparin is bleeding! Or hemorrhage. Usually it is minor - a nose bleed,
some blood in the urine, or skin tears that will not stop bleeding. Major
bleeding (about 2% of cases) would be in the GI tract or in the brain.
8. What are the nursing implications for Heparin? (for IV and
subq): •Intravenous injection: Continuous, Intermittent (bolus)
•Do not mix with other IV medications
