The Clot Busters

Anticoagulants + Antiplatelets + Thrombolytics (Heparin, Enoxaparin, Warfarin, Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Alteplase)
Body System: Hematologic System

Welcome to the bloodstream—where one “helpful” clot can save a life… and one wrong clot can steal it.

In this volume, Lucy and the crew enter the Coagulation Corridor, a living highway where platelets build barricades and clotting factors chain together like a factory line. Your mission: prevent dangerous clots, keep blood flowing, and—when time is running out—break an existing clot fast using the core meds that dominate DVT/PE, stroke, MI, afib, and post-op nursing care.

What this book covers (in story form):

Anticoagulants (Stop the clotting factor chain)

• Heparin — fast-acting IV/SC defense: how it shuts down clotting power quickly, what monitoring looks like, and the bleeding red flags nurses catch first.

• Enoxaparin (Lovenox) — low-molecular-weight heparin: predictable protection for DVT/PE prevention and treatment, with key injection-site and safety teaching built into the scenes.

• Warfarin (Coumadin) — long-game anticoagulation: vitamin K pathway control, why the onset is slow, and how diet/drug interactions become part of nursing care.

Antiplatelets (Stop platelet “plug” formation)

• Aspirin (Ecotrin) — keeps platelets from clumping: where it shines in cardiovascular protection and the common bleeding/GI considerations.

• Clopidogrel (Plavix) — blocks platelet activation signals: why it’s used after stents and in stroke prevention, plus the safety checks that matter before procedures.

Thrombolytic (Break the clot that’s already blocking flow)

• Alteplase (tPA) — the emergency “clot dissolver”: what it does, why timing is everything, and the high-stakes bleeding precautions that shape every nursing move.

You’ll learn through:

• A clear battle map so you always know what each med targets

• Indications made memorable (DVT/PE prevention & treatment, AFib stroke prevention, ACS/stents, ischemic stroke time windows)

• Safety-first nursing priorities

  • bleeding assessment cues (skin, stool/urine, neuro changes, gums, IV sites)

  • when to hold meds and escalate

  • injection technique teaching (LMWH), fall precautions, and procedure planning

  • patient education that prevents readmission (warfarin diet consistency, interactions, follow-up labs)