The nurse admits a client with a medical diagnosis of peripheral artery disease complaining of severe pain in the right leg.Which is the nurse's priority assessment?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The client's complaint of severe pain in the right leg combined with the medical diagnosis of peripheral artery disease indicates a potential issue with blood flow to that leg. To determine the extent of the issue and plan appropriate interventions, it is essential to assess all the pulses in the right leg (femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, and pedal) as well as their corresponding pulses in the left leg for comparison. Assessing the femoral pulses alone, as in option A, would not provide a complete assessment of the client's condition. Obtaining a thorough nursing history, as in option B, is important but may not be the priority in this acute situation. Assessing the client's radial and brachial pulses, as in option C, would not provide information regarding the adequacy of blood flow to the right leg.

The Nurse Admits a Client with a Medical Diagnosis of Peripheral