In suspected PAD, which assessment would the practical nurse perform?

In suspected PAD, which assessment would the practical nurse perform?

• A. Assess for pallor or blanching of the foot when in a dependent position.
• B. Assess for diminished or absent pulses in the extremities.
• C. Assess for lower leg edema.
• D. Assess blood pressure in both thighs.

Answer: (B)

In PAD, arteries are narrowed, reducing blood flow to the legs. The quickest and most telling bedside check is feeling for the distal pulses in the feet and legs—the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses. If these pulses are weak or absent, it signals arterial insufficiency consistent with PAD and helps confirm the concern early, guiding further assessment and escalation as needed. Other signs like edema point to venous issues rather than arterial supply, and while color changes with elevation or dependency can occur, they’re not as direct a measure of arterial perfusion. Measuring blood pressure in the thighs isn’t a routine, reliable stand-alone test for PAD at the practical nurse level.

In PAD, arteries are narrowed, reducing blood flow to the legs. The quickest and most telling bedside check is feeling for the distal pulses in the feet and legs—the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses. If these pulses are weak or absent, it signals arterial insufficiency consistent with PAD and helps confirm the concern early, guiding further assessment and escalation as needed. Other signs like edema point to venous issues rather than arterial supply, and while color changes with elevation or dependency can occur, they’re not as direct a measure of arterial perfusion. Measuring blood pressure in the thighs isn’t a routine, reliable stand-alone test for PAD at the practical nurse level.