Question to all surgical nurses?

I'm not a surgical nurse but I recently, in clinicals, had someone who had just come back from an angiogram and had scheduled SQ heparin. We (my assigned nurse and I both wanted to make sure) talked to the charge nurse about this who said it was OK because it's a prophalytic dose

I would anticipate the Pt getting Protmine (heparine antidote) at the start of surgery provided the OR knew there was heparin on board.

We do this on our floor much of the time depending on the patient's coagulation status and the surgeon's orders. Sometimes they want you to give it, sometimes they don't. I almost always call to clarify if it isn't specified.

The big NO is Lovenox. It has a long half life and it is harder to reverse (if the MD chooses to try to reverse it at all).

That's "pro-phy-lac-tic" and "prot-a-mine." Look up the difference between someone on anticoagulation therapy for new atrial fib (what's a common dose of heparin? how is it given? what lab test is used to check for optimal anticoagulation?) and prophylaxis for DVT postop (common dose, labs (if any), route of administration). And look up the meaning of "prophylactic" and "prophylaxis," too. It will help you understand.

Fully heparinized blood is what goes through the artificial kidneys used in hemodialysis. How do you suppose that is managed? Right. The heparin gets reversed with protamine.