NUR 240 PrepU Chapter 26: Assessment and Management of Patients with Vascular Disorders and Disorders of Peripheral Circulation

A nurse is reviewing self-care measures for a client with peripheral vascular disease. Which statement indicates proper self-care measures?

"I have my wife look at the soles of my feet each day."

The physician prescribed a Tegapore dressing to treat a venous ulcer. What should the nurse expect that the ankle-brachial index (ABI) will be if the circulatory status is adequate?

0.50

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.

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 client in the emergency department states, "I have always taken a morning walk, but lately my leg cramps and hurts after just a few minutes of walking. The pain goes away after I stop walking, though." Based on this statement, which priority assessment should the nurse complete?

Attempt to palpate the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses.

Health teaching for a patient diagnosed with Raynaud's phenomenon would include advising the patient to avoid the most common factor known to trigger episodes. Which of the following is the most common factor?

Cold and stress

The nurse assesses a patient with hip pain related to intermittent claudication. She knows that the area of arterial narrowing is the:

Common iliac artery.

A health care provider wants a cross-sectional image of the abdomen to evaluate the degree of stenosis in a patient's left common iliac artery. The nurse knows to prepare the patient for which of the following?

Computed tomography angiography (CTA)

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

As the clinic nurse caring for a client with varicose veins, what is an appropriate nursing action for this client?

Demonstrate how to apply and remove elastic support stockings.

The nurse assessing a client who has arterial insufficiency of the legs and an ulcer on the left great toe would expect to find which characteristic?

Diminished or absent pulses

Which aneurysm results in bleeding into the layers of the arterial wall?

Dissecting

The nurse knows which diagnostic test is used to document the anatomic site of reflux and provides a quantitative measure of the severity of valvular reflux?

Duplex ultrasound scan

Which statement is accurate regarding Raynaud disease?

Episodes may be triggered by unusual sensitivity to cold.

Which class of medication lyses and dissolves thrombi?

Fibrinolytic

A patient with diabetes is being treated for a wound on the lower extremity that has been present for 30 days. What option for treatment is available to increase diffusion of oxygen to the hypoxic wound?

Hyperbaric oxygen

The nurse is caring for a patient who has started anticoagulant therapy with warfarin (Coumadin). When does the nurse understand that therapeutic benefits will begin?

In 3 to 5 days

Which term refers to enlarged, red, and tender lymph nodes?

Lymphadenitis

A client is diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease. Review of the client's chart shows an ankle-brachial index (ABI) on the right of 0.45. This indicates that the right foot has which of the following?

Moderate to severe arterial insufficiency

Aortic dissection may be mistaken for which of the following disease processes?

Myocardial infarction (MI)

The nurse is performing wound care for a patient with a necrotic sacral wound. The prescribed treatment is isotonic saline solution with fine mesh gauze and a dry dressing to cover. What type of debridement is the nurse performing?

Nonselective debridement

A client has been diagnosed with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Which of the following instructions is appropriate for the nurse to give the client for promoting circulation to the extremities?

Participate in a regular walking program.

A nurse is caring for a client following an arterial vascular bypass graft in the leg. What should the nurse plan to assess over the next 24 hours?

Peripheral pulses every 15 minutes after surgery

A patient complains of a "stabbing pain and a burning sensation" in his left foot. The nurse notices that the foot is a lighter color than the rest of the skin. The artery that the nurse suspects is occluded would be the:

Posterior tibial.

A postoperative client is receiving heparin after developing thrombophlebitis. The nurse monitors the client carefully for bleeding and other adverse effects of heparin. If the client starts to exhibit signs of excessive bleeding, the nurse should expect to administer an antidote that is specific to heparin. Which agent fits this description?

Protamine sulfate

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?

Recent pelvic surgery

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

Teach the client how to apply a graduated compression stocking.

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 nurse and physician are preparing to visit a hospitalized client with peripheral arterial disease. As you approach the client's room, the physician asks if the client has reported any intermittent claudication. The client has reported this symptom. The nurse explains to the physician which of the following details?

The client can walk about 50 feet before getting pain in the right lower leg.

What symptoms should the nurse assess for in a client with lymphedema as a result of impaired nutrition to the tissue?

Ulcers and infection in the edematous 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

A client reports pain and cramping in the thigh when climbing stairs and numbness in the legs after exertion. Which diagnostic test with the physician likely perform right in the office to determine PAD?

ankle-brachial index

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.

Vasodilation or vasoconstriction produced by an external cause will interfere with a nurse's accurate assessment of a client with peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Therefore, the nurse should:

keep the client warm.

The nurse is caring for a client recovering from acute axillary lymphangitis. Which treatment will the nurse anticipate being prescribed for this client after antibiotic therapy has concluded?

Compression sleeve

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.

Which of the following is the hallmark symptom for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the lower extremity?

Intermittent claudication

A home health nurse is teaching a client with peripheral arterial disease ways to improve circulation to the lower extremities. The nurse encourages which of the following in teaching?

Keeping the legs in a neutral or dependent position

The nurse is preparing discharge teaching for a client with venous insufficiency. Which information will the nurse include in the instructions? Select all that apply.

Sleep with the foot of the bed elevated 6 inches. Elevate the legs 15 to 20 minutes 4 times a day. Avoid wearing socks that are tight only at the top of the leg.

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

Which of the following are alterations noted in Virchow's triad? Select all that apply.

Stasis of blood Vessel wall injury Altered coagulation