Deep Vein Thrombosis — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
Clot in deep vein
👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team
🕐 Updated 2026-07-11
🏷️ Physiological Adaptation
🔖 Free to read, print, and share
Deep vein thrombosis: a clot within a deep leg vein. Illustration: BruceBlaus via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0.
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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- Unilateral leg swelling, warmth
- Redness, calf pain, tenderness
- PE: sudden SOB, chest pain
- Do NOT massage leg
- Anticoag: heparin → warfarin/DOAC
- Elevate leg, bed rest early
- Warm compress, SCDs prevention
- Ambulate, hydrate, no crossing legs
- Bleeding precautions on AC
✨Quick Tip
The affected limb is typically swollen, warm, red, and tender, often calf or thigh.
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