Comprehensive Nursing Management,
Assessment, Interventions, Pharmacology,
Patient Education, Risk Reduction, and
Postoperative Care for Peripheral Artery
Disease, Venous Thromboembolism,
Aneurysms, Raynaud’s Phenomenon,
Buerger’s Disease, and Chronic Venous
Insufficiency Exam Questions Verified and
Provided with Complete A+ Graded
Rationales Latest Updated 2026
A patient in the outpatient clinic has a new diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Which
medication category will the nurse plan to include when providing patient teaching about PAD
management?
a.
Statins
b.
Vitamins
c.
Thrombolytics
d.
Anticoagulants
ANS: A
Current research indicates that statin use by patients with PAD improves multiple
outcomes. There is no research that supports the use of the other medication categories in PAD.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 875-876 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
5. A patient with chronic atrial fibrillation develops sudden severe pain, pulselessness, pallor,
and coolness in the left leg. The nurse should notify the health care provider and
ANS: D
,The patient's history and clinical manifestations are consistent with acute arterial
occlusion, and rest
A patient at the clinic says, "I have always taken an evening walk, but lately my leg cramps and
hurts after just a few minutes of walking. The pain goes away after I stop walking, though." The
nurse should
a.
attempt to palpate the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses.
b.
check for the presence of tortuous veins bilaterally on the legs.
c.
ask about any skin color changes that occur in response to cold.
d.
assess for unilateral swelling, redness, and tenderness of either leg.
ANS: A
The nurse should assess for other clinical manifestations of peripheral arterial disease in a
patient who describes intermittent claudication. Changes in skin color that occur in response to
cold are consistent with Raynaud's phenomenon. Tortuous veins on the legs suggest venous
insufficiency. Unilateral leg swelling, redness, and tenderness point to venous
thromboembolism (VTE).
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 878-879
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
After teaching a patient with newly diagnosed Raynaud's phenomenon about how to manage
the condition, which behavior by the patient indicates that the teaching has been effective?
a.
The patient avoids the use of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
b.
The patient exercises indoors during the winter months.
c.
The patient places the hands in hot water when they turn pale.
d.
The patient takes pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) for cold symptoms.
ANS: B
Patients should avoid temperature extremes by exercising indoors when it is cold. To
avoid burn injuries, the patient should use warm, rather than hot, water to warm the hands.
Pseudoephedrine is a vasoconstrictor and should be avoided. There is no reason to avoid taking
,aspirin and NSAIDs with Raynaud's phenomenon.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 881-883 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
The health care provider has prescribed bed rest with the feet elevated for a patient admitted to
the hospital with deep vein thrombosis. The best method for the nurse to use in elevating the
patient's feet is to
a
place the patient in the Trendelenburg position.
b.
place two pillows under the calf of the affected leg.
c.
elevate the bed at the knee and put pillows under the feet.
d.
put one pillow under the thighs and two pillows under the lower legs.
ANS: D
The purpose of elevating the feet is to enhance venous flow from the feet to the right
atrium, which is best accomplished by placing two pillows under the feet and one under the
thighs. Placing the patient in the Trendelenburg position will lower the head below heart level,
which is not indicated for this patient. Placing pillows under the calf or elevating the bed at the
knee may cause blood stasis at the calf level.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 889-890
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
The health care provider prescribes an infusion of argatroban (Acova) and
a.
avoid giving any IM medications to prevent localized bleeding.
b.
discontinue the infusion for PTT values greater than 50 seconds.
c.
monitor posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis pulses with the Doppler.
d.
have vitamin K available in case reversal of the argatroban is needed.
ANS: A
IM injections are avoided in patients receiving anticoagulation. A PTT of 50 seconds is
within the therapeutic range. Vitamin K is used to reverse warfarin. Pulse quality is not affected
by VTE.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 887 | 889-890
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
A patient with a venous thromboembolism (VTE) is started on enoxaparin (Lovenox) and
warfarin (Coumadin). The patient asks the nurse why two medications are necessary. Which
response by the nurse is accurate?
a.
"Administration of two anticoagulants reduces the risk for recurrent venous thrombosis."
b.
"Lovenox will start to dissolve the clot, and Coumadin will prevent any more clots from
occurring."
c.
"The Lovenox will work immediately, but the Coumadin takes several days to have an effect on
coagulation."
d.
"Because of the potential for a pulmonary embolism, it is important for you to have more than
one anticoagulant."
ANS: C
Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is used because of the immediate effect on
coagulation and discontinued once the international normalized ratio (INR) value indicates that
the warfarin has reached a therapeutic level. LMWH has no thrombolytic properties. The use of
two anticoagulants is not related to the risk for pulmonary em- bolism, and two are not
necessary to reduce the risk for another VTE.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 885-888
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
13. The nurse has initiated discharge teaching for a patient who is to be maintained on warfarin
(Coumadin) following hospitalization for venous thromboem- bolism (VTE). The nurse
determines that additional teaching is needed when the patient says,
a.
"I should reduce the amount of green, leafy vegetables that I eat."
b.
"I should wear a Medic Alert bracelet stating that I take Coumadin."
c.
"I will need to have blood tests routinely to monitor the effects of the Coumadin."
d.
"I will check with my health care provider before I begin or stop any medication."
Assessment, Interventions, Pharmacology,
Patient Education, Risk Reduction, and
Postoperative Care for Peripheral Artery
Disease, Venous Thromboembolism,
Aneurysms, Raynaud’s Phenomenon,
Buerger’s Disease, and Chronic Venous
Insufficiency Exam Questions Verified and
Provided with Complete A+ Graded
Rationales Latest Updated 2026
A patient in the outpatient clinic has a new diagnosis of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Which
medication category will the nurse plan to include when providing patient teaching about PAD
management?
a.
Statins
b.
Vitamins
c.
Thrombolytics
d.
Anticoagulants
ANS: A
Current research indicates that statin use by patients with PAD improves multiple
outcomes. There is no research that supports the use of the other medication categories in PAD.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 875-876 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
5. A patient with chronic atrial fibrillation develops sudden severe pain, pulselessness, pallor,
and coolness in the left leg. The nurse should notify the health care provider and
ANS: D
,The patient's history and clinical manifestations are consistent with acute arterial
occlusion, and rest
A patient at the clinic says, "I have always taken an evening walk, but lately my leg cramps and
hurts after just a few minutes of walking. The pain goes away after I stop walking, though." The
nurse should
a.
attempt to palpate the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses.
b.
check for the presence of tortuous veins bilaterally on the legs.
c.
ask about any skin color changes that occur in response to cold.
d.
assess for unilateral swelling, redness, and tenderness of either leg.
ANS: A
The nurse should assess for other clinical manifestations of peripheral arterial disease in a
patient who describes intermittent claudication. Changes in skin color that occur in response to
cold are consistent with Raynaud's phenomenon. Tortuous veins on the legs suggest venous
insufficiency. Unilateral leg swelling, redness, and tenderness point to venous
thromboembolism (VTE).
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 878-879
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
After teaching a patient with newly diagnosed Raynaud's phenomenon about how to manage
the condition, which behavior by the patient indicates that the teaching has been effective?
a.
The patient avoids the use of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
b.
The patient exercises indoors during the winter months.
c.
The patient places the hands in hot water when they turn pale.
d.
The patient takes pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) for cold symptoms.
ANS: B
Patients should avoid temperature extremes by exercising indoors when it is cold. To
avoid burn injuries, the patient should use warm, rather than hot, water to warm the hands.
Pseudoephedrine is a vasoconstrictor and should be avoided. There is no reason to avoid taking
,aspirin and NSAIDs with Raynaud's phenomenon.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 881-883 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
The health care provider has prescribed bed rest with the feet elevated for a patient admitted to
the hospital with deep vein thrombosis. The best method for the nurse to use in elevating the
patient's feet is to
a
place the patient in the Trendelenburg position.
b.
place two pillows under the calf of the affected leg.
c.
elevate the bed at the knee and put pillows under the feet.
d.
put one pillow under the thighs and two pillows under the lower legs.
ANS: D
The purpose of elevating the feet is to enhance venous flow from the feet to the right
atrium, which is best accomplished by placing two pillows under the feet and one under the
thighs. Placing the patient in the Trendelenburg position will lower the head below heart level,
which is not indicated for this patient. Placing pillows under the calf or elevating the bed at the
knee may cause blood stasis at the calf level.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 889-890
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
The health care provider prescribes an infusion of argatroban (Acova) and
a.
avoid giving any IM medications to prevent localized bleeding.
b.
discontinue the infusion for PTT values greater than 50 seconds.
c.
monitor posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis pulses with the Doppler.
d.
have vitamin K available in case reversal of the argatroban is needed.
ANS: A
IM injections are avoided in patients receiving anticoagulation. A PTT of 50 seconds is
within the therapeutic range. Vitamin K is used to reverse warfarin. Pulse quality is not affected
by VTE.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 887 | 889-890
TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
A patient with a venous thromboembolism (VTE) is started on enoxaparin (Lovenox) and
warfarin (Coumadin). The patient asks the nurse why two medications are necessary. Which
response by the nurse is accurate?
a.
"Administration of two anticoagulants reduces the risk for recurrent venous thrombosis."
b.
"Lovenox will start to dissolve the clot, and Coumadin will prevent any more clots from
occurring."
c.
"The Lovenox will work immediately, but the Coumadin takes several days to have an effect on
coagulation."
d.
"Because of the potential for a pulmonary embolism, it is important for you to have more than
one anticoagulant."
ANS: C
Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is used because of the immediate effect on
coagulation and discontinued once the international normalized ratio (INR) value indicates that
the warfarin has reached a therapeutic level. LMWH has no thrombolytic properties. The use of
two anticoagulants is not related to the risk for pulmonary em- bolism, and two are not
necessary to reduce the risk for another VTE.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 885-888
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
13. The nurse has initiated discharge teaching for a patient who is to be maintained on warfarin
(Coumadin) following hospitalization for venous thromboem- bolism (VTE). The nurse
determines that additional teaching is needed when the patient says,
a.
"I should reduce the amount of green, leafy vegetables that I eat."
b.
"I should wear a Medic Alert bracelet stating that I take Coumadin."
c.
"I will need to have blood tests routinely to monitor the effects of the Coumadin."
d.
"I will check with my health care provider before I begin or stop any medication."
