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The nurse is assessing a patient in the emergency department with a history of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with severe back pain and absent pedal pulses. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- A. Obtain the blood pressure.
- B. Ask the patient about tobacco use.
- C. Draw blood for ordered laboratory testing.
- D. Assess for the presence of an abdominal bruit.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Since the patient appears to be experiencing aortic dissection, the nurse's first action should be to determine the hemodynamic status by assessing blood pressure. The other actions also may be done, but they will not provide information that will determine what interventions are needed immediately for this patient.
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The nurse is developing a teaching plan for a patient newly diagnosed with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Which of the following information should the nurse include?
- A. Exercise only if you do not experience any pain.
- B. It is very important that you stop smoking cigarettes.
- C. Try to keep your legs elevated whenever you are sitting.
- D. Put on support hose early in the day before swelling occurs.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Smoking cessation is essential for slowing the progression of PAD to critical limb ischemia and reducing the risk of myocardial infarction and death. Circulation to the legs will decrease if the legs are elevated. Patients with PAD are taught to exercise to the point of feeling pain, rest, and then resume walking. Support hose are not used for patients with PAD.
The nurse is caring for a patient with chronic atrial fibrillation who develops sudden severe pain, pulselessness, pallor, and coolness in the left leg. Which of the following actions should the nurse implement first?
- A. Elevate the left leg on a pillow.
- B. Apply an elastic wrap to the leg.
- C. Assist the patient in gently exercising the leg.
- D. Notify the health care provider.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The patient's history and clinical manifestations are consistent with acute arterial occlusion. Clinical manifestations of acute arterial ischemia include the 'six Ps': pain, pallor, paralysis, pulselessness, paresthesia, and poikilothermia (adaptation of the limb to the environmental temperature most often cool). Without immediate intervention, ischemia may progress quickly to tissue necrosis and gangrene within a few hours. If the nurse detects these signs, the nurse should immediately notify the health care provider. Elevating the leg or applying an elastic wrap will further compromise blood flow to the leg. Exercise will increase oxygen demand for the tissues of the leg.
The nurse is providing teaching to a patient with a venous ulcer on the right lower leg. Which of the following patient statements indicates a need for further teaching?
- A. I will put on my support stockings before I get out of bed in the morning.
- B. I will take an antibiotic for a few days to prevent infection of the ulcer.
- C. I will eat more meat and other high-protein foods.
- D. I will apply a compression dressing every evening before I go to bed.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Compression of the leg is essential to healing of venous ulcers in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. High dietary intake of protein, rather than carbohydrates, is needed. Prophylactic antibiotics are not routinely used for venous ulcers. Moist environment dressings are used to hasten wound healing. Applying a compression dressing only in the evening is insufficient; it should be worn consistently to promote healing.
The nurse is caring for a patient with peripheral artery disease who is Aspirin intolerant. Which of the following medications should the nurse anticipate the health care provider prescribing for the patient related to this intolerance?
- A. Pentoxifylline
- B. Clopidogrel
- C. Ramipril
- D. Warfarin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For patients who are Aspirin intolerant, clopidogrel (75 mg/day) is indicated. Pentoxifylline is used to treat intermittent claudication. Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor. Warfarin is an anticoagulant and is not recommended for the prevention of coronary artery disease in patients with PAD.
Immediately after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a patient has absent popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis pulses. The legs are cool and mottled. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- A. Wrap both the legs in warm blankets.
- B. Notify the surgeon and anaesthesiologist.
- C. Document that the pulses are absent and recheck in 30 minutes.
- D. Review the preoperative assessment form for data about the pulses.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Many patients with aortic aneurysms also have peripheral arterial disease, so the nurse should check the preoperative assessment to determine whether pulses were present before surgery before notifying the health care providers about the absent pulses. Because the patient's symptoms may indicate graft occlusion or multiple emboli and a possible need to return to surgery, it is not appropriate to wait 30 minutes before taking action. Warm blankets will not improve the circulation to the patient's legs.