Ch 26 PrepU

A community health nurse teaches a group of older adults about modifiable risk factors that contribute to the development of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The nurse knows that the teaching was effective based on which statement?

"I will need to stop smoking because the nicotine causes less blood to flow to my hands and feet."

The nurse is caring for a client with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Which assessment finding is most likely to indicate a dissection of the aneurysm?

Severe pain

When caring for a patient who has started anticoagulant therapy with warfarin (Coumadin), the nurse knows that therapeutic benefits will not occur for:

3 to 5 days.

Heparin therapy is usually considered therapeutic when the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is how many times higher than a normal value?

1.5 to 2.5

When administering heparin anticoagulant therapy, the nurse needs to make certain that the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is within the therapeutic range of:

1.5 to 2.5 times the baseline control.

A nursing instructor is discussing the diagnosis of intermittent claudication with students. To determine whether the students understand the pathophysiology of the disease, the instructor asks, "What percentage of the arterial lumen must be obstructed before intermittent claudication is experienced?" What answer should the students give?

50

The nurse is assessing a client with severe hypertension. Which symptom indicates to the nurse that the client is experiencing dissection of the aorta?

A ripping sensation in the chest

A patient is admitted to a special critical care unit for the treatment of an arterial thrombus. The nurse is aware that the preferred drug of choice for clot removal, unless contraindicated, would be:

Alteplase.

To assess the dorsalis pedis artery, the nurse would use the tips of three fingers and apply light pressure to the:

Anterior surface of the foot near the ankle joint.

You are presenting a workshop at the senior citizens center about how the changes of aging predisposes clients to vascular occlusive disorders. What would you name as the most common cause of peripheral arterial problems in the older adult?

Atherosclerosis

The nurse is caring for a client with Raynaud's disease. What are important instructions for a client who is diagnosed with this disease to prevent an attack?

Avoid situations that contribute to ischemic episodes.

A client is recovering from surgical repair of a dissecting aortic aneurysm. Which assessment findings indicate possible bleeding or recurring dissection?

Blood pressure of 82/40 mm Hg and heart rate of 125 beats/minute

Health teaching includes advising patients on ways to reduce PAD. The nurse should always emphasize that the strongest risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic lesions is:

Cigarette smoking.

A client is hospitalized for repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The nurse must be alert for signs and symptoms of aneurysm rupture and thus looks for which of the following?

Constant, intense back pain and falling blood pressure

Which is a characteristic of arterial insufficiency?

Diminished or absent pulses

A patient is having an angiography to detect the presence of an aneurysm. After the contrast is administered by the interventionist, the patient begins to complain of nausea and difficulty breathing. What medication is a priority to administer at this time?

Epinephrine

A client in the ED has a 5-cm thoracic aortic aneurysm that was discovered during a routine chest x-ray. When obtaining the client's history, which symptoms will it be most important for the nurse to ask about?

Hoarse voice and difficulty swallowing

Which sign or symptom suggests that a client's abdominal aortic aneurysm is extending?

Increased abdominal and back pain

A client is receiving enoxaparin and warfarin therapy for a venous thromboembolism (VTE). Which laboratory value indicates that anticoagulation is adequate and enoxaparin can be discontinued?

International normalized ratio (INR) is 2.5.

The nurse is caring for a client with upper extremity arterial disease. Which assessments will the nurse include in the client's plan of care? Select all that apply.

Measure blood pressure on both arms. Assess capillary refill on both arms every 2 hours. Compare radial pulses on both wrists every 2 hours.

A physician admits a client to the health care facility for treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. When planning this client's care, which goal should the nurse keep in mind as she formulates interventions?

Stabilizing heart rate and blood pressure and easing anxiety

A nurse is providing education about the prevention of arterial constriction to a client with peripheral arterial disease. Which of the following includes priority information the nurse would give to the client?

Stop smoking.

On a routine visit to the physician, a client with chronic arterial occlusive disease reports that he's stopped smoking after 34 years. To relieve symptoms of intermittent claudication, a condition associated with chronic arterial occlusive disease, which additional measure should the nurse recommend?

Taking daily walks

What should the nurse do to manage the persistent swelling in a client with severe lymphangitis and lymphadenitis?

Teach the client how to apply an elastic sleeve

A client with a diagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) develops severe lower back pain. Which is the most likely cause?

The aneurysm may be preparing to rupture.

A pregnant client who developed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in her right leg is receiving heparin I.V. on the medical floor. Physical therapy is ordered to maintain her mobility and prevent additional DVT. A nursing assistant working on the medical unit helps the client with bathing, range-of-motion exercises, and personal care. Which collaborative multidisciplinary considerations should the care plan address?

The client is at risk for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia; therefore, the care plan should include reporting evidence of bleeding or easy bruising.

A female client is readmitted to the facility with a warm, tender, reddened area on her right calf. Which contributing factor should the nurse recognize as most important?

The client shows signs of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The pelvic area has a rich blood supply, and thrombophlebitis of the deep veins is associated with pelvic surgery. Aspirin, an antiplatelet agent, and an active walking program help decrease the client's risk of DVT. In general, diabetes mellitus is a contributing factor associated with peripheral vascular disease.

Which of the following is the most common site for a dissecting aneurysm?

Thoracic area

A home health nurse is seeing an elderly male client for the first time. During the physical assessment of the skin on the lower legs, the nurse notes edema, brown pigmentation in the gaiter area, pedal pulses, and a few irregularly shaped ulcers around the ankles. From these findings, the nurse knows that the client has a problem with peripheral circulation. Which of the following does the nurse suspect?

Venous insufficiency

The term for a diagnostic test that involves injection of a contrast media into the venous system through a dorsal vein in the foot is

contrast phlebography.

To check for arterial insufficiency when a client is in a supine position, the nurse should elevate the extremity at a 45-degree angle and then have the client sit up. The nurse suspects arterial insufficiency if the assessment reveals:

elevational pallor.