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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to miss the remainder of the NFL season after doctors discovered blood clots in both lungs, a potentially life-threatening condition known as bilateral pulmonary emboli.
The 28-year-old quarterback was also diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, typically in the leg. According to a statement from the Eagles and Hurts’ agent, Nicole Lynn, he is clinically stable, has no significant functional limitations, and is expected to make a full recovery. He will receive anticoagulation therapy and cannot participate in contact sports while taking blood thinners.
The diagnosis has drawn national attention to the dangers of blood clots, including how they can affect young, physically active individuals. For nurses, it also underscores the importance of recognizing subtle changes in patients’ symptoms and understanding new treatment recommendations.
Geoffrey Barnes, MD, MSc, a cardiologist and vascular medicine specialist at the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center, says nurses have an important role in identifying symptoms that patients may not fully disclose to their physicians.
“Many patients minimize their symptoms, especially when talking to their doctor,” Barnes tells Nurse Approved. “However, patients are often more forthcoming with their nurse about any functional limitations, who can then relay that information to the rest of the care team and ensure that patients receive an appropriate evaluation.”
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Recognizing Pulmonary Embolism Before Patients Deteriorate
Pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot, often originating in a deep vein in the leg, travels through the bloodstream and blocks a lung artery. Depending on the severity of the blockage, the condition can cause serious cardiovascular complications or death.
Symptoms may include sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens with deep breathing, rapid heart rate, lightheadedness, or coughing up blood. DVT may cause swelling, pain, warmth, or redness in the affected leg, although some patients have few noticeable symptoms.
Barnes’ observation about patients minimizing symptoms highlights the importance of asking about changes in everyday activities and functional abilities. For example, a patient who initially describes mild shortness of breath may reveal during a nursing assessment that walking across a room has become unusually difficult.
Nurses should also remain alert to changes in respiratory status, oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure. Sudden breathing difficulties, chest pain, syncope, or signs of hemodynamic instability warrant immediate assessment and escalation.
What the 2026 Pulmonary Embolism Guidelines Mean for Nurses
Barnes, who helped develop the 2026 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines for evaluating and managing acute pulmonary embolism, identifies two recommendations with important implications for nursing care.
The first involves patients considered at low risk for pulmonary embolism-related complications.
“Patients at low risk of PE-related complications (categories A and B) should be considered for outpatient management with direct oral anticoagulants,” Barnes explains.
The guidelines introduce a five-category classification system, ranging from A to E, to help clinicians assess disease severity and determine appropriate treatment.
Category A patients are asymptomatic and generally do not require hospitalization. Category B patients have symptoms but a low clinical severity score and may qualify for early discharge.
For nurses, outpatient management places greater emphasis on discharge education. Patients prescribed direct oral anticoagulants need clear instructions about medication adherence, recognizing signs of bleeding, knowing when to seek medical attention, and attending follow-up appointments.
A Change in Anticoagulation Treatment
The second recommendation Barnes highlights concerns anticoagulation therapy for patients hospitalized with acute pulmonary embolism.
“For patients with acute PE admitted to the hospital, low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is preferred over unfractionated heparin (UFH) in most cases because it has a faster time to therapeutic effect, more predictable pharmacokinetics, and is associated with better outcomes,” Barnes says.
The guidelines recommend LMWH over UFH for patients requiring initial parenteral anticoagulation, with treatment decisions guided by individual clinical circumstances.
Unfractionated heparin typically requires laboratory monitoring and dose adjustments, while LMWH generally provides a more predictable anticoagulant response without routine coagulation monitoring in most patients.
Regardless of the medication selected, nurses must monitor for bleeding complications, assess changes in clinical status, and reinforce the importance of following prescribed treatment.
The Nursing Role Extends Beyond the Hospital
Pulmonary embolism care does not end when patients leave the hospital.
The 2026 guidelines recommend assessing patients for persistent symptoms and functional limitations at every follow-up visit for at least one year after an acute pulmonary embolism. These assessments can help identify chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease or other causes of ongoing breathing difficulties.
Nurses working in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and primary care settings can help patients recognize concerning symptoms, understand anticoagulation precautions, and communicate changes during recovery.
Hurts’ diagnosis has brought renewed attention to a condition that can affect people regardless of age or physical fitness.
Barnes’ observations also reinforce an important lesson for nursing practice: Sometimes the information that helps identify a serious medical problem emerges not during a formal examination, but through a conversation in which a patient feels comfortable sharing what they are experiencing.
