CARE OF PATIENTS WITH
HYPERTENSION AND
PERIPHERAL VASCULAR
DISEASE
[Document subtitle]
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
, MEDSURG
Chapter 18 Care of Patients with Hypertension and Peripheral Vascular
Disease
EVOLVE
1. The student nurse is reviewing the patient’s chart and notes that the
patient experiences intermittent claudication. When is the patient most
likely to experience this disorder?
• After exercise
Intermittent claudication is inadequate arterial supply to muscles in the lower
extremities that results in severe cramping of the muscles after activity.
Dorsiflexion of the foot when phlebitis is present is a positive Homan sign,
indicating the possible presence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, it is
no longer considered a reliable assessment for DVT.
• Immediately after exposure to cold
• First thing in the morning after getting out of bed
• After dorsiflexion of the foot when phlebitis is present
2. Which of these complaints, if made by a 58-year-old man, may reflect
a symptom of hypertension?
• “My vision is a little blurry.”
Patients often have no signs or symptoms until the later stages of
hypertension. Signs and symptoms that patients may experience include
headache, dizziness, blurred vision, blackouts, irritability, angina, dyspnea, or
fatigue. Hearing problems, back pain, and sleep disturbances are not
associated with hypertension.
• “I’m having some hearing problems.”
• “My back seems to be hurting me more frequently.”
• “I’m not sleeping as late in the morning as I used to.”
3. A patient complains of burning and numbness in her hands and states
that “they turn really red” if she is in an air-conditioned environment
for too long. The nurse would anticipate which diagnosis?
• Hypertension
• Arterial occlusion
• Raynaud disease
Symptoms of Raynaud disease result from intermittent ischemia occurring
from exposure to cold. The symptoms generally resolve when the extremities
are warmed. Symptoms of CTS (nerve compression in the upper extremity)
are not generally temperature related. Arterial occlusion would result in
blanching of the affected extremity, not reddening. These are not typical
symptoms of hypertension.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
2
HYPERTENSION AND
PERIPHERAL VASCULAR
DISEASE
[Document subtitle]
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
, MEDSURG
Chapter 18 Care of Patients with Hypertension and Peripheral Vascular
Disease
EVOLVE
1. The student nurse is reviewing the patient’s chart and notes that the
patient experiences intermittent claudication. When is the patient most
likely to experience this disorder?
• After exercise
Intermittent claudication is inadequate arterial supply to muscles in the lower
extremities that results in severe cramping of the muscles after activity.
Dorsiflexion of the foot when phlebitis is present is a positive Homan sign,
indicating the possible presence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, it is
no longer considered a reliable assessment for DVT.
• Immediately after exposure to cold
• First thing in the morning after getting out of bed
• After dorsiflexion of the foot when phlebitis is present
2. Which of these complaints, if made by a 58-year-old man, may reflect
a symptom of hypertension?
• “My vision is a little blurry.”
Patients often have no signs or symptoms until the later stages of
hypertension. Signs and symptoms that patients may experience include
headache, dizziness, blurred vision, blackouts, irritability, angina, dyspnea, or
fatigue. Hearing problems, back pain, and sleep disturbances are not
associated with hypertension.
• “I’m having some hearing problems.”
• “My back seems to be hurting me more frequently.”
• “I’m not sleeping as late in the morning as I used to.”
3. A patient complains of burning and numbness in her hands and states
that “they turn really red” if she is in an air-conditioned environment
for too long. The nurse would anticipate which diagnosis?
• Hypertension
• Arterial occlusion
• Raynaud disease
Symptoms of Raynaud disease result from intermittent ischemia occurring
from exposure to cold. The symptoms generally resolve when the extremities
are warmed. Symptoms of CTS (nerve compression in the upper extremity)
are not generally temperature related. Arterial occlusion would result in
blanching of the affected extremity, not reddening. These are not typical
symptoms of hypertension.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
2
