A nurse is caring for an adolescent who has hemophilia A and is scheduled for wisdom teeth extractions. Prior to the procedure, the nurse should anticipate that the client will receive which of the following products?

A. Stop the enema and document that the client did not tolerate the procedure:
This option may be appropriate if the client's discomfort is severe or if there are signs of distress. However, abdominal cramps are a common sensation during the administration of an enema, especially if the bowel is distended or constipated. Therefore, stopping the procedure may not be necessary at this point.
B. Encourage the client to bear down:
Bearing down might help the client expel the enema solution and relieve some discomfort. However, if the client is already experiencing abdominal cramps, bearing down could exacerbate the discomfort and is not likely to provide immediate relief.
C. Lower the height of the solution container:
This is the correct action to take. Lowering the height of the solution container reduces the flow rate of the enema solution, which can help alleviate abdominal cramps by slowing the rate of distension of the bowel. Slowing the infusion rate allows the client's colon to accommodate to the enema more comfortably.
D. Allow the client to expel some fluid before continuing:
Allowing the client to expel some fluid before continuing may provide some relief, but it does not directly address the cause of the discomfort. Lowering the height of the solution container is a more appropriate action to address the discomfort caused by abdominal cramps during the administration of the enema.

A. "The oral medication you will take after this IV will dissolve the clot": This statement is incorrect. While anticoagulants like warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) may be prescribed to prevent the formation of new clots or to treat existing clots, heparin, whether administered intravenously or subcutaneously, is not typically used to dissolve existing clots.
B. "A pharmacist is the person to answer that question": This response deflects the client's question and does not provide useful information. While pharmacists are knowledgeable about medications, nurses are responsible for educating clients about their treatments and should be able to provide accurate information regarding heparin therapy.
C. "Heparin does not dissolve clots. It stops new clots from forming": This is the correct response. Heparin is an anticoagulant medication that works by inhibiting the formation of new clots rather than dissolving existing ones. It does so by inhibiting the activity of clotting factors in the blood, thus preventing the clot from enlarging or new clots from forming.
D. "It usually takes heparin at least 2 to 3 days to reach a therapeutic blood level": While this statement provides information about the time required for heparin to achieve a therapeutic effect, it does not address the client's specific question about clot dissolution. Heparin's anticoagulant effects occur rapidly, but its primary action is prevention rather than dissolution of existing clots.