CNM Certified Nurse Midwife

Answer: A - The priority action of the nurse is to administer heparin. Disseminated intravascular coagulation is a condition in which small blood clots form throughout the blood stream. Increased clotting depletes the platelets and clotting factors that control bleeding, which may result in excessive bleeding. Heparin increases anti-thrombin III activity and prevents the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. Oxygen may be administered at 2-3L/min. Platelet replacement may be necessary when the client’s platelet count decreases to less than 20,000 platelets/µL.