NUR 223 Peripheral Vascular System
and Skin Test Questions with
Complete Correct Answers.
What are the steps of the BEDSIDE peripheral vascular exam? - Answer 1. Inspect upper and
lower extremities for symmetry of size
2. Palpates radial pulses
3. Palpates capillary refill
4. Palpates dorsal pedal pulses
5. Palpates lower extremities for edema
What assessment techniques are used during the BEDSIDE peripheral vascular exam? - Answer
Inspection and palpation
Describe specifically how to assess AND evaluate capillary refill? - Answer Depress the tip of
the nail beds on the same finger on each hand. Release and note the time it takes for color to
return. Refill should occur within a fraction of a second.
List and describe the grading scale used to evaluate pulses? - Answer 1. 3+/3+=
increased/full/bounding
2. 2+/3+= normal/expected
3. 1+/3+= weak
4. 0+/3+= absent/not palpable
List and describe the grading scale used to evaluate edema? - Answer 1. 1+/4+= mild pitting/
slight indentation/ no perceptible swelling
2. 2+/4+= moderate pitting/ indentation subsides rapidly
3. 3+/4+= dee pitting/ indentation remains short time/ leg looks swollen
4. 4+/4+= very deep pitting/ indentation last long time/ leg grossly swollen
What assessment techniques are used during the skin exam? - Answer Inspection and
palpation
, How does the nurse specifically assess skin temperature during this skin exam? - Answer With
the back of hand and with light touch
What 3 findings are being assessed on the forearms and tibias during the BEDSIDE skin exam? -
Answer Texture, moisture, and temperature
Which 2 findings are being assessed on the upper and lower extremities during the BEDSIDE
skin exam? - Answer Color and intactness
Describe 3 conditions that put a patient at risk for skin breakdown? - Answer Age, mobility,
dryness
What 2 findings are being assessed during inspection of the bony prominences during the skin
exam? - Answer Color and intactness
What is the difference between the peripheral vascular exam and the skin exam? - Answer In
the peripheral we are looking at circulation when in the skin we are looking externally ,
What is the purpose of the peripheral vascular system? - Answer Carrying blood from the
heart to the rest of the body and back
Describe the general purpose of the lymphatic system? - Answer Keeps body fluid levels in
balance and defends the body against infections
What are arteries? - Answer A vessel carrying blood away from the heart to the tissues/body
What is the femoral artery? - Answer the main artery of the thigh, supplying blood to the
groin and lower extremities
What are veins? - Answer thin-walled blood vessels returning blood to the heart from the
tissues/body
What is a pulse? - Answer Beat of the heart as felt through the walls of a peripheral artery
and Skin Test Questions with
Complete Correct Answers.
What are the steps of the BEDSIDE peripheral vascular exam? - Answer 1. Inspect upper and
lower extremities for symmetry of size
2. Palpates radial pulses
3. Palpates capillary refill
4. Palpates dorsal pedal pulses
5. Palpates lower extremities for edema
What assessment techniques are used during the BEDSIDE peripheral vascular exam? - Answer
Inspection and palpation
Describe specifically how to assess AND evaluate capillary refill? - Answer Depress the tip of
the nail beds on the same finger on each hand. Release and note the time it takes for color to
return. Refill should occur within a fraction of a second.
List and describe the grading scale used to evaluate pulses? - Answer 1. 3+/3+=
increased/full/bounding
2. 2+/3+= normal/expected
3. 1+/3+= weak
4. 0+/3+= absent/not palpable
List and describe the grading scale used to evaluate edema? - Answer 1. 1+/4+= mild pitting/
slight indentation/ no perceptible swelling
2. 2+/4+= moderate pitting/ indentation subsides rapidly
3. 3+/4+= dee pitting/ indentation remains short time/ leg looks swollen
4. 4+/4+= very deep pitting/ indentation last long time/ leg grossly swollen
What assessment techniques are used during the skin exam? - Answer Inspection and
palpation
, How does the nurse specifically assess skin temperature during this skin exam? - Answer With
the back of hand and with light touch
What 3 findings are being assessed on the forearms and tibias during the BEDSIDE skin exam? -
Answer Texture, moisture, and temperature
Which 2 findings are being assessed on the upper and lower extremities during the BEDSIDE
skin exam? - Answer Color and intactness
Describe 3 conditions that put a patient at risk for skin breakdown? - Answer Age, mobility,
dryness
What 2 findings are being assessed during inspection of the bony prominences during the skin
exam? - Answer Color and intactness
What is the difference between the peripheral vascular exam and the skin exam? - Answer In
the peripheral we are looking at circulation when in the skin we are looking externally ,
What is the purpose of the peripheral vascular system? - Answer Carrying blood from the
heart to the rest of the body and back
Describe the general purpose of the lymphatic system? - Answer Keeps body fluid levels in
balance and defends the body against infections
What are arteries? - Answer A vessel carrying blood away from the heart to the tissues/body
What is the femoral artery? - Answer the main artery of the thigh, supplying blood to the
groin and lower extremities
What are veins? - Answer thin-walled blood vessels returning blood to the heart from the
tissues/body
What is a pulse? - Answer Beat of the heart as felt through the walls of a peripheral artery
