What could be a reason for a patient to start bleeding profusely from the IV site and nose after hemodialysis?

The correct answer is that the patient received heparin during hemodialysis. Heparin is an anticoagulant commonly used in hemodialysis to prevent blood clotting in the dialysis machine and within the patient's vascular system. While it is effective in reducing clot formation, it can also increase the risk of bleeding. If a patient receives heparin and subsequently experiences bleeding from sites such as the IV access point and nose, it may indicate either an excessive dose of heparin or an underlying coagulation issue that has been exacerbated by the use of the anticoagulant.

In patients undergoing dialysis, careful monitoring of coagulation levels is crucial, and they may have increased susceptibility to bleeding due to the nature of the treatment and the medications used. Thus, the administration of heparin directly correlates with the symptoms of profuse bleeding observed in this scenario.