The nurse is performing an assessment on an adult. The adult's vital signs are normal, and capillary refill time is 5 seconds. What should the nurse do next?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Normal capillary refill time is less than 1 to 2 seconds. A capillary refill time of 5 is a decrease in capillary refill which indicates vasoconstriction or decreased cardiac output. The nurse should investigate further. Decreased capillary refill is not a characteristic of previous frostbite or venous insufficiency and some conditions can skew the findings: a cool room, decreased body temperature, cigarette smoking, peripheral edema, and anemia.

The Nurse Is Performing an Assessment on an Adult