Chapter 22 Peripheral Vascular Assessment – Study Guide, Practice
Questions & Revision Notes
A hospitalized post-operative client exhibits edema, pain, erythema, and warmth in the right
calf area. What is the nurse's best action?
Assist the client to turn, cough, and deep breathe.
Discontinue the indwelling urinary catheter.
Encourage early ambulation.
Notify the healthcare provider. - ANS ✔✔Notify the healthcare provider.
The client is exhibiting signs of venous thromboembolism. The healthcare provider should be
notified immediately to prevent further complications. This condition is a national client safety
concern for hospitalized clients. Early ambulation could dislodge a possible clot. Prevention of
pneumonia is encouraged by turning, coughing, and deep breathing. Signs of a urinary tract
infection include pain, increased white blood cells, and fever.
A client visits the clinic and tells the nurse that she had a mastectomy 2 years ago. The nurse
should assess the client for
Raynaud disease.
poor peripheral pulses.
lymphedema.
bruits over the radial artery. - ANS ✔✔lymphedema
Lymphedema results from blocked lymphatic circulation, which may be caused by breast
surgery. It usually affects one extremity, causing induration and nonpitting edema.
The client complains of pain and numbness in his left lower leg. The nurse identifies on
assessment that the left leg is cool and gray in color. The nurse suspects what?
,Arterial occlusion
Venous thromboembolism
Pulmonary embolism
Deep vein thrombosis - ANS ✔✔Arterial occlusion
Symptoms of a complete arterial occlusion includes pain, numbness, coolness, or color change
of an extremity and is an emergency. A deep vein thrombosis is characterized by pain, edema
and warmth of the extremity. Pulmonary embolism symptoms include acute dyspnea, chest
pain, diaphoresis and anxiety. Venous thromboembolism occurs when a blood clot travels from
the legs to the lungs.
The nurse is planning care for a client recovering from orthopedic surgery. Interventions should
be included to address which contributing factor to deep vein thrombosis development?
Immobility
Smoking
Obesity
Hypertension - ANS ✔✔Immobility
Immobility can lead to blood stasis, which is a contributing factor to the development of a deep
vein thrombosis. Obesity is a risk factor for the development of arterial and venous disease.
Smoking is a risk factor for arterial and venous disease and for the development of an
abdominal aortic aneurysm. Hypertension is a risk factor for arterial disease and abdominal
aortic aneurysm.
When you enter the room of a hospitalized client, you note that the client is guarding her left
leg, which is swollen and reddened. You should identify the signs and symptoms of what
complication of hospitalization?
Fluid imbalance
Decreased mobility
Sepsis
, Venous thromboembolism - ANS ✔✔Venous thromboembolism
Edema, pain or achiness, erythema, and warmth in the leg are common signs and symptoms of
venous thromboembolism.
A client presents to the health care clinic with reports of swelling, pain, and coolness of the
lower extremities. The nurse should recognize that which of these lifestyle practices are risk
factors for peripheral vascular disease? Select all that apply.
Regular exercise
Low alcohol intake
Cigarette smoking
Previous use of hormones
High-fat diet
Stress-reduction techniques - ANS ✔✔Cigarette smoking
Previous use of hormones
High-fat diet
The risk factors for the development of peripheral vascular disease include smoking, lack of
exercise, high stress, moderate to high alcohol intake, previous use of hormonal birth control
(females), and a high-fat diet.
A 55-year-old secretary with a recent history of breast cancer, for which she underwent surgery
and radiation therapy, and hypertension comes to the office for a routine check-up. Which of
the following aspects of the physical examination are most important when assessing the client
for peripheral vascular disease in the arms?
Radial pulse, brachial pulse
Femoral pulse, popliteal pulse
Carotid pulse
Dorsalis pedis pulse, posterior tibial pulse - ANS ✔✔Radial pulse, brachial pulse
Questions & Revision Notes
A hospitalized post-operative client exhibits edema, pain, erythema, and warmth in the right
calf area. What is the nurse's best action?
Assist the client to turn, cough, and deep breathe.
Discontinue the indwelling urinary catheter.
Encourage early ambulation.
Notify the healthcare provider. - ANS ✔✔Notify the healthcare provider.
The client is exhibiting signs of venous thromboembolism. The healthcare provider should be
notified immediately to prevent further complications. This condition is a national client safety
concern for hospitalized clients. Early ambulation could dislodge a possible clot. Prevention of
pneumonia is encouraged by turning, coughing, and deep breathing. Signs of a urinary tract
infection include pain, increased white blood cells, and fever.
A client visits the clinic and tells the nurse that she had a mastectomy 2 years ago. The nurse
should assess the client for
Raynaud disease.
poor peripheral pulses.
lymphedema.
bruits over the radial artery. - ANS ✔✔lymphedema
Lymphedema results from blocked lymphatic circulation, which may be caused by breast
surgery. It usually affects one extremity, causing induration and nonpitting edema.
The client complains of pain and numbness in his left lower leg. The nurse identifies on
assessment that the left leg is cool and gray in color. The nurse suspects what?
,Arterial occlusion
Venous thromboembolism
Pulmonary embolism
Deep vein thrombosis - ANS ✔✔Arterial occlusion
Symptoms of a complete arterial occlusion includes pain, numbness, coolness, or color change
of an extremity and is an emergency. A deep vein thrombosis is characterized by pain, edema
and warmth of the extremity. Pulmonary embolism symptoms include acute dyspnea, chest
pain, diaphoresis and anxiety. Venous thromboembolism occurs when a blood clot travels from
the legs to the lungs.
The nurse is planning care for a client recovering from orthopedic surgery. Interventions should
be included to address which contributing factor to deep vein thrombosis development?
Immobility
Smoking
Obesity
Hypertension - ANS ✔✔Immobility
Immobility can lead to blood stasis, which is a contributing factor to the development of a deep
vein thrombosis. Obesity is a risk factor for the development of arterial and venous disease.
Smoking is a risk factor for arterial and venous disease and for the development of an
abdominal aortic aneurysm. Hypertension is a risk factor for arterial disease and abdominal
aortic aneurysm.
When you enter the room of a hospitalized client, you note that the client is guarding her left
leg, which is swollen and reddened. You should identify the signs and symptoms of what
complication of hospitalization?
Fluid imbalance
Decreased mobility
Sepsis
, Venous thromboembolism - ANS ✔✔Venous thromboembolism
Edema, pain or achiness, erythema, and warmth in the leg are common signs and symptoms of
venous thromboembolism.
A client presents to the health care clinic with reports of swelling, pain, and coolness of the
lower extremities. The nurse should recognize that which of these lifestyle practices are risk
factors for peripheral vascular disease? Select all that apply.
Regular exercise
Low alcohol intake
Cigarette smoking
Previous use of hormones
High-fat diet
Stress-reduction techniques - ANS ✔✔Cigarette smoking
Previous use of hormones
High-fat diet
The risk factors for the development of peripheral vascular disease include smoking, lack of
exercise, high stress, moderate to high alcohol intake, previous use of hormonal birth control
(females), and a high-fat diet.
A 55-year-old secretary with a recent history of breast cancer, for which she underwent surgery
and radiation therapy, and hypertension comes to the office for a routine check-up. Which of
the following aspects of the physical examination are most important when assessing the client
for peripheral vascular disease in the arms?
Radial pulse, brachial pulse
Femoral pulse, popliteal pulse
Carotid pulse
Dorsalis pedis pulse, posterior tibial pulse - ANS ✔✔Radial pulse, brachial pulse
