Health Assessment 2 (NR 304) Examinations
with verified answers
palpation of radial pulse - ANSWERPalpate both pulses noting the rate,
rhythm, elasticity of vessel wall and equal force
grading pulse - ANSWER3+ full bounding
2+ normal
1+ weak
0 absent
brachial pulse - ANSWERpalpate this pulse if you suspect arterial insufficiency
modified Allen's test - ANSWERtests for ulnar arterial insufficiency by
occluding both the radial and ulnar artery
normal results: normal color of hand should reappear approximately 2-5
seconds
abnormal results: pallor persists or a sluggish return to color suggest
occlusion of the collateral arterial flow
temporal artery - ANSWERpalpated in front of the ear
carotid artery - ANSWERpalpated in the groove b/t the sternomastoid muscle
and the trachea
,brachial artery - ANSWERmajor artery supplying the arm
radial artery - ANSWERlies medial to the radius and wrist supplies blood to
the hand
ulnar artery - ANSWERlies lateral to the ulna. Deeper and often difficult to
feel. Supplies blood to the hand
femoral artery - ANSWERmajor artery in the leg. Palpated in the inguinal area
popliteal artery - ANSWERartery in the knee. Located posterior to the patella.
Divides into the anterior and posterial tibial artery
anterior tibial - ANSWERtravels down the front of the leg on to the dorsal of
the foot becomes the dorsalis pedis.
carries blood to the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal surface of
the foot
posterior tibial - ANSWERtravels down behind the medial malleolus and
forms the plantar arteries in the foot.
carries blood to the posterior compartment of the leg and plantar surface of
the foot
dorsalis pedis - ANSWERa blood vessel of the lower limb that carries
oxygenated blood to the dorsal surface of the foot
,claudication distance - ANSWERthe number of blocks walked or stairs
climbed to produce pain
arterial claudication - ANSWERpain in the calf, thigh or hip or muscle fatigue
that occurs when walking a certain distance related to peripheral arterial
disease (PAD)
peripheral perfusion - ANSWERchecking for capillary refill by blanching the
nail beds and noting the time for color return
normal is less than 1-2 seconds
doppler - ANSWERused if pulses are too weak to detect by palpation, monitor
blood pressure in infants or children, measure low blood pressure or blood
pressure in the lower extremities
A noninvasive test using sound waves to detect blood flow through blood
vessels
ex. competent valves (varicosities)
edema - ANSWERfluid build up in the interstitial space
PVD - ANSWERcirculation disorder in which narrowed blood vessels reduce
blood flow to the limbs. Caused by arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries
caused by plaque build up)
Inspect skin for ulcers, temperature and color
lymphedema - ANSWERswelling in the arms or legs caused by a blockage of
the lymphatic system , causes a build up of lymph fluid in tissues
, intermittent claudication - ANSWERa condition in which cramping pain in the
leg is induced by exercise, typically caused by obstruction of the arteries
5 P's - ANSWERPain
Pulselessness
Pallor
Parasthesia (can't feel)
Paralysis (can't move)
Grading Edema - ANSWER+1 mild pitting, no swelling
+2 moderate pulling, indentation goes away quickly
+3 deep pitting, swollen
+4 very deep pitting, indentation stays, very swollen
Arterial Occlusion - ANSWER-5 P's
-Mottling
- Bluish/cyanosis
- decrease capillary refill
- cold temperature
arterial insufficiency - ANSWER- skin is cool
-skin is thin and shiny
- no edema
-no hair growth
- decreased pulses
with verified answers
palpation of radial pulse - ANSWERPalpate both pulses noting the rate,
rhythm, elasticity of vessel wall and equal force
grading pulse - ANSWER3+ full bounding
2+ normal
1+ weak
0 absent
brachial pulse - ANSWERpalpate this pulse if you suspect arterial insufficiency
modified Allen's test - ANSWERtests for ulnar arterial insufficiency by
occluding both the radial and ulnar artery
normal results: normal color of hand should reappear approximately 2-5
seconds
abnormal results: pallor persists or a sluggish return to color suggest
occlusion of the collateral arterial flow
temporal artery - ANSWERpalpated in front of the ear
carotid artery - ANSWERpalpated in the groove b/t the sternomastoid muscle
and the trachea
,brachial artery - ANSWERmajor artery supplying the arm
radial artery - ANSWERlies medial to the radius and wrist supplies blood to
the hand
ulnar artery - ANSWERlies lateral to the ulna. Deeper and often difficult to
feel. Supplies blood to the hand
femoral artery - ANSWERmajor artery in the leg. Palpated in the inguinal area
popliteal artery - ANSWERartery in the knee. Located posterior to the patella.
Divides into the anterior and posterial tibial artery
anterior tibial - ANSWERtravels down the front of the leg on to the dorsal of
the foot becomes the dorsalis pedis.
carries blood to the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal surface of
the foot
posterior tibial - ANSWERtravels down behind the medial malleolus and
forms the plantar arteries in the foot.
carries blood to the posterior compartment of the leg and plantar surface of
the foot
dorsalis pedis - ANSWERa blood vessel of the lower limb that carries
oxygenated blood to the dorsal surface of the foot
,claudication distance - ANSWERthe number of blocks walked or stairs
climbed to produce pain
arterial claudication - ANSWERpain in the calf, thigh or hip or muscle fatigue
that occurs when walking a certain distance related to peripheral arterial
disease (PAD)
peripheral perfusion - ANSWERchecking for capillary refill by blanching the
nail beds and noting the time for color return
normal is less than 1-2 seconds
doppler - ANSWERused if pulses are too weak to detect by palpation, monitor
blood pressure in infants or children, measure low blood pressure or blood
pressure in the lower extremities
A noninvasive test using sound waves to detect blood flow through blood
vessels
ex. competent valves (varicosities)
edema - ANSWERfluid build up in the interstitial space
PVD - ANSWERcirculation disorder in which narrowed blood vessels reduce
blood flow to the limbs. Caused by arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries
caused by plaque build up)
Inspect skin for ulcers, temperature and color
lymphedema - ANSWERswelling in the arms or legs caused by a blockage of
the lymphatic system , causes a build up of lymph fluid in tissues
, intermittent claudication - ANSWERa condition in which cramping pain in the
leg is induced by exercise, typically caused by obstruction of the arteries
5 P's - ANSWERPain
Pulselessness
Pallor
Parasthesia (can't feel)
Paralysis (can't move)
Grading Edema - ANSWER+1 mild pitting, no swelling
+2 moderate pulling, indentation goes away quickly
+3 deep pitting, swollen
+4 very deep pitting, indentation stays, very swollen
Arterial Occlusion - ANSWER-5 P's
-Mottling
- Bluish/cyanosis
- decrease capillary refill
- cold temperature
arterial insufficiency - ANSWER- skin is cool
-skin is thin and shiny
- no edema
-no hair growth
- decreased pulses
