The nurse is caring for a client receiving an intravenous heparin infusion. The client has a new prescription for warfarin and asks the nurse why he has to be on two medications. What response by the nurse is appropriate?

The combination of heparin and an oral anticoagulant results in fewer adverse effects than heparin alone.

Heparin provides anticoagulation while we wait for your blood level of warfarin to reach adequate levels.

These medications work synergistically.

The warfarin is used to obtain an adequate level of anticoagulation when heparin alone is unable to do so.