Priority for DVT

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if you could only do 2 things for the patient that is at risk for DVT`s.. what would it be? I`m having a hard time prioritizing this since the interventions all seem equally important.. is there a rationale when it comes to what ABSOLUTELY has to get done over something else?

Specializes in Operating Room Nurse.
If only two options?

I would pick Lovenox (Or whatever anticoag ur hospital uses)

and SCD's/TED hose

Being a nurse meds are the last option. We must do some independent nursing action first :)

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Being a nurse meds are the last option. We must do some independent nursing action first :)

We can agree to disagree, but administering medications is a pretty big part of nursing.

Out of curiosity, what did you mean by "proper nutrition" and what exactly does that have to do with virchows triad/DVT prevention?

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.
No compression stockings :)

TED's/SCD's are okay if the patient is at risk for a DVT, but if the patient is postive for a DVT than these are contraindicated.

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We can agree to disagree, but administering medications is a pretty big part of nursing.

Out of curiosity, what did you mean by "proper nutrition" and what exactly does that have to do with virchows triad/DVT prevention?

Yes- but the doctor orders them.

Nursing diagnoses focus on the nursing care.

Once the meds are ordered, then nursing steps in :)

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TED's/SCD's are okay if the patient is at risk for a DVT, but if the patient is postive for a DVT than these are contraindicated.

ITA with this, I was on an ortho post-op floor a few terms ago and bilateral TED hose were standing orders for both TKA/THA's.

If I were going to pick among ONLY nursing interventions I'd say 1) Ambulate and 2) ankle pumps.

I also agree about Homan's, that one is tricky. Besides, monitoring is gee golly great, but it doesn't really prevent something that's fairly likely to happen without intervention.

If I could incorporate from all orders I'd say 1) prophylactic Lovenox (or comparable) and 2) ambulation

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I was taught that it's important to be specific about any "monitoring" since that's what they're in the hospital for to begin with :) Instead of "monitor vital signs" it's "Vital signs q4h and report T>101, P>100, R>24, or whatever parameters you're given, as well as the BP highs/lows.

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Yes- but the doctor orders them.

Nursing diagnoses focus on the nursing care.

Once the meds are ordered, then nursing steps in :)

My school allows meds on care plans.

If they didn't then I'd pick SCD's then Ankle pumps 10x every awake hour.

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My school allows meds on care plans.

If they didn't then I'd pick SCD's then Ankle pumps 10x every awake hour.

Yes. You include meds on care plans....to administer, monitor, and report any problems, but to initiate, you need an MD. But they are not nursing measures as MDs have to order them.

If this is about all orders from all disciplines, then yeah- I'd include them; my understanding from the OP is to do nursing interventions. ????

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Yes. You include meds on care plans....to administer, monitor, and report any problems, but to initiate, you need an MD. But they are not nursing measures as MDs have to order them.

If this is about all orders from all disciplines, then yeah- I'd include them; my understanding from the OP is to do nursing interventions. ????

To me it sounded as though he/she needed to prioritize interventions on his/her care plan. (When else does a student need to prioritize interventions?) Sure an MD or DO needs to order the med but the nurse administers it and can hold it at his/her discretion. (A nurse should hold the anticoag if the aPTT, INR, or PT is too high.)

Ankle pumps, SCD's, and early ambulation are good nursing interventions that prevent DVT's; but they target only 1 part of Virchows Triad (Venous Stasis). If I could only choose two interventions I would pick an anticoag (interferes with the clotting cascade), and SCD's or ankle pumps (Venous Stasis). Hitting TWO parts of virchows triad instead of just one isn't a bad idea. But again, that's only if your instructor allows meds as interventions on your care plan.

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LOL.... the OP didn't give much info... :)

Or come back :confused:

Hey, OP- can you give us all what YOU came up with ??? And what you think are the probable priorities (in order)? :)

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