A patient is admitted with an ulcer on the right great toe. The nurse determines that the blood pressure in the patient's right arm is 138 systolic, the left arm is 136 systolic, the right ankle is 65 systolic, and the left ankle is 66 systolic. How does the nurse evaluate these readings?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The significant difference between the arm systolic blood pressures and the ankle systolic blood pressures suggests poor circulation to the feet, which can impede healing of the ulcer. This condition, known as peripheral artery disease (PAD), is indicated by an ankle-brachial index (ABI) less than 1.0, suggesting that the ulcer may not heal well due to inadequate blood flow.

A Patient Is Admitted with an Ulcer on the Right