VTE Prevention: Development of an Institutional Protocol and the Nurse's Role.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including the combined diseases of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a significant health problem that affects mortality, morbidity, and resource expenditure. Multiple guidelines have been formulated to address this condition, but broad implementation in health care is lacking. Nurses have a pivotal role in VTE prevention through increased knowledge, patient advocacy, and implementation/development of institutional VTE protocols.