Priority for DVT

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?

Pressure support air thingys on the legs, early ambulation, no pillows under the knees... lovanox, teach s\s of a PE

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?

Elevate the feet above or level of the heart to promote venous return

proper nutrition

I am considering your patient as HIGH RISK FOR DVT but is not having a DVT yet.. so that will be helpful

Assess for negative homan's sign every shift?

giving ordered anticoagulant meds and monitoring?

teaching about s/s PE or CVA?

elevate the limbs to promote venous return add low dose of heparin or available ant coangulant agents or use low dose of acetyl salisilate acid 75mg combine with the above po

elevate the limbs to promote venous return add low dose of heparin or available ant coangulant agents or use low dose of acetyl salisilate acid 75mg combine with the above po

These are not things nursing can do. This involves prescribing medications, and is beyond the scope of practice. :)

Use of compression stockings, ambulation, elevating legs while in bed or reclining, teaching regarding P.O. meds, teaching s/s of clots.

The 2 things I guess would be importance of staying on medications/making sure the pt gets in for labs and the use of compression stockings. But the others are so important that teaching could include meds, s/s of DVT, leg elevation, and compression stockings.....Can't we stick them all under teaching,lol :)

Assess for negative homan's sign every shift?

When I first started nursing school they taught this; but a year later my instructors discouraged this because this can actually cause a thrombus to become an embolus = PE.

elevate the limbs to promote venous return add low dose of heparin or available ant coangulant agents or use low dose of acetyl salisilate acid 75mg combine with the above po

As xtxrn said, this is beyond the scope of practice. You can collaborate with the physician and make suggestions to add an anticoagulant and make sure the patient takes these meds but that's it. There are other things that we as nurses can do.

Pressure support air thingys on the legs, early ambulation, no pillows under the knees... lovanox, teach s\s of a PE

Venodyne boots? Haha. Sequential compression devices and heparin are commonly used on the floor I work on to prevent DVTs.

No compression stockings :)

If only two options?

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

and SCD's/TED hose

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 :)