The home care nurse has given instructions to a client who was recently discharged from the hospital regarding the care of their extremities due to peripheral arterial disease. The nurse determines that there is a need for further teaching if the client makes which statement?
"I should cut my toenails straight across when clipping them."
"I should wear shoes and socks instead of open toed shoes."
1 should inspect my feet daily for any cuts."
"I should raise my legs above the level of my heart periodically."
The Correct Answer is D
A. Cutting toenails straight across is an appropriate action for PAD clients because it prevents injury or infection, as clipping nails too short or rounding the edges can cause cuts or ingrown nails.
B. Wearing shoes and socks instead of open-toed shoes is recommended to protect the feet from injury, as individuals with PAD have decreased sensation in their feet, increasing the risk of unnoticed injury.
C. Inspecting the feet daily for cuts is a crucial step in PAD management to detect early signs of infection or injury, which can lead to complications such as gangrene or amputation.
D. Raising the legs above the heart level can worsen symptoms in PAD by further reducing arterial blood flow to the lower extremities, where circulation is already compromised. This technique is typically used in venous insufficiency, not PAD.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Venous insufficiency results in symptoms such as swelling, aching, or heaviness, especially in the lower legs, but does not typically cause pain with exertion that is relieved by rest.
B. Intermittent claudication refers to pain and cramping in the legs that occurs during physical activity (like walking) due to reduced blood flow, which is relieved by rest. This is a hallmark symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
C. Neuropathy refers to nerve damage, often seen in conditions like diabetes, and is usually characterized by tingling, numbness, or burning sensations, not cramping or pain relieved by rest.
D. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) presents with swelling, redness, warmth, and possible pain in the affected leg due to blood clot formation, not cramping with exertion.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. While an ECG can provide insight into the function of the heart, it does not directly measure the pumping strength.
B. The primary purpose of an ECG is to assess the electrical activity of the heart. It measures the timing and strength of electrical signals as they move through the heart muscle, which helps diagnose arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and other cardiac conditions.
C. An ECG does not evaluate coronary artery blood flow. Tests like coronary angiography or stress tests are used for that purpose.
D. An ECG does not provide a visualization of the heart's size or shape, which would be done through imaging methods like a chest X-ray or echocardiogram.
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