A nurse is caring for a client who has thrombophlebitis and is receiving heparin by continuous IV infusion. The client asks the nurse how long it will take for the heparin to dissolve the clot. Which of the following responses should the nurse give?

The correct answer is C: Heparin does not dissolve clots. It stops new clots from forming. Heparin works by inhibiting the formation of blood clots rather than dissolving existing clots. It does this by enhancing the activity of antithrombin III, which inhibits clotting factors. Therefore, heparin is used to prevent the extension of existing clots and the formation of new ones. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because heparin does not directly dissolve clots, oral medications do not dissolve clots, and a pharmacist would not provide the specific information about clot dissolution.