,NUR 242 EXAM 4 Medical-Surgical Nursing Concepts Questions And
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which finding is most consistent with adequate peripheral
arterial perfusion?
A) Cool skin with absent pedal pulses
B) Warm skin with palpable peripheral pulses
C) Cyanotic toes with delayed capillary refill
D) Severe pain at rest
Correct Answer: B) Warm skin with palpable peripheral pulses
Rationale: Adequate arterial perfusion generally produces warm skin,
palpable pulses, appropriate color, and prompt capillary refill.
Q2. Which assessment finding suggests peripheral arterial disease?
A) Warm extremity with strong pulses
B) Dependent edema with brown pigmentation
C) Cool, pale extremity with diminished pulses
D) Bilateral pitting edema after prolonged standing
Correct Answer: C) Cool, pale extremity with diminished pulses
Rationale: Arterial insufficiency reduces oxygenated blood flow and
commonly causes coolness, pallor, diminished pulses, delayed healing, and
ischemic pain.
Q3. Which symptom is classically associated with intermittent
claudication?
A) Leg pain that occurs with activity and improves with rest
B) Pain that consistently improves when walking farther
C) Sudden chest pain after meals
D) Pain caused only by lying down
Correct Answer: A) Leg pain that occurs with activity and improves with rest
Rationale: Intermittent claudication results from inadequate arterial blood
flow during increased muscle demand and typically improves when activity
stops.
Q4. Which finding is more characteristic of chronic venous
insufficiency than arterial insufficiency?
, A) Cool, pale skin
B) Diminished pedal pulses
C) Brownish discoloration and edema
D) Pain relieved by dangling the leg
Correct Answer: C) Brownish discoloration and edema
Rationale: Venous insufficiency causes venous pooling and commonly
produces dependent edema, skin thickening, and hemosiderin-related brown
discoloration.
Q5. Which positioning is generally beneficial for a patient with
chronic venous insufficiency?
A) Keep the legs dependent continuously.
B) Elevate the legs when resting, as appropriate.
C) Place a pillow under only one knee.
D) Keep the patient on bed rest.
Correct Answer: B) Elevate the legs when resting, as appropriate.
Rationale: Leg elevation uses gravity to assist venous return and can
reduce dependent venous congestion and edema.
Q6. Which intervention is commonly used to manage chronic venous
insufficiency when arterial circulation is adequate?
A) Compression therapy
B) Continuous limb dependency
C) Strict fluid restriction
D) Routine arterial vasoconstriction
Correct Answer: A) Compression therapy
Rationale: Compression reduces venous pooling and promotes return of
blood toward the heart when significant arterial insufficiency is not present.
Q7. Which finding should make the nurse suspect an acute arterial
occlusion?
A) Gradual bilateral ankle edema
B) Sudden pain, pallor, pulselessness, and coolness
C) Chronic brown skin pigmentation
D) Warm extremity with strong pulses
Correct Answer: B) Sudden pain, pallor, pulselessness, and coolness
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which finding is most consistent with adequate peripheral
arterial perfusion?
A) Cool skin with absent pedal pulses
B) Warm skin with palpable peripheral pulses
C) Cyanotic toes with delayed capillary refill
D) Severe pain at rest
Correct Answer: B) Warm skin with palpable peripheral pulses
Rationale: Adequate arterial perfusion generally produces warm skin,
palpable pulses, appropriate color, and prompt capillary refill.
Q2. Which assessment finding suggests peripheral arterial disease?
A) Warm extremity with strong pulses
B) Dependent edema with brown pigmentation
C) Cool, pale extremity with diminished pulses
D) Bilateral pitting edema after prolonged standing
Correct Answer: C) Cool, pale extremity with diminished pulses
Rationale: Arterial insufficiency reduces oxygenated blood flow and
commonly causes coolness, pallor, diminished pulses, delayed healing, and
ischemic pain.
Q3. Which symptom is classically associated with intermittent
claudication?
A) Leg pain that occurs with activity and improves with rest
B) Pain that consistently improves when walking farther
C) Sudden chest pain after meals
D) Pain caused only by lying down
Correct Answer: A) Leg pain that occurs with activity and improves with rest
Rationale: Intermittent claudication results from inadequate arterial blood
flow during increased muscle demand and typically improves when activity
stops.
Q4. Which finding is more characteristic of chronic venous
insufficiency than arterial insufficiency?
, A) Cool, pale skin
B) Diminished pedal pulses
C) Brownish discoloration and edema
D) Pain relieved by dangling the leg
Correct Answer: C) Brownish discoloration and edema
Rationale: Venous insufficiency causes venous pooling and commonly
produces dependent edema, skin thickening, and hemosiderin-related brown
discoloration.
Q5. Which positioning is generally beneficial for a patient with
chronic venous insufficiency?
A) Keep the legs dependent continuously.
B) Elevate the legs when resting, as appropriate.
C) Place a pillow under only one knee.
D) Keep the patient on bed rest.
Correct Answer: B) Elevate the legs when resting, as appropriate.
Rationale: Leg elevation uses gravity to assist venous return and can
reduce dependent venous congestion and edema.
Q6. Which intervention is commonly used to manage chronic venous
insufficiency when arterial circulation is adequate?
A) Compression therapy
B) Continuous limb dependency
C) Strict fluid restriction
D) Routine arterial vasoconstriction
Correct Answer: A) Compression therapy
Rationale: Compression reduces venous pooling and promotes return of
blood toward the heart when significant arterial insufficiency is not present.
Q7. Which finding should make the nurse suspect an acute arterial
occlusion?
A) Gradual bilateral ankle edema
B) Sudden pain, pallor, pulselessness, and coolness
C) Chronic brown skin pigmentation
D) Warm extremity with strong pulses
Correct Answer: B) Sudden pain, pallor, pulselessness, and coolness
