While assisting a patient, the nurse notices one calf is larger after removing TED stockings. What should be the next action?

While assisting a patient, the nurse notices one calf is larger after removing TED stockings. What should be the next action?

• A. Examine the calf carefully and ask the patient if they have any pain.
• B. Put the TED stocking back on and elevate the leg.
• C. Measure the calf with a tape measure and call the doctor immediately.
• D. Wash the leg and ask her to exercise that leg a bit more to reduce swelling.

Answer: (A)

Unilateral calf swelling after removing compression stockings raises a potential venous problem, such as a deep vein thrombosis, so the first step is to assess what you’re seeing. Examining the calf and asking the patient about pain helps you identify tenderness, warmth, redness, or increasing swelling that could indicate a clot. This bedside assessment guides what to do next and ensures you don’t miss a serious condition. Reapplying the stockings or telling the patient to exercise the leg isn’t appropriate right now because these actions could mask symptoms or worsen a clot risk. Measuring the calf or calling the doctor immediately would be premature without first performing a focused assessment. If you find tenderness or other signs suggestive of DVT, report your findings promptly and follow your facility’s protocol for further evaluation.

Unilateral calf swelling after removing compression stockings raises a potential venous problem, such as a deep vein thrombosis, so the first step is to assess what you’re seeing. Examining the calf and asking the patient about pain helps you identify tenderness, warmth, redness, or increasing swelling that could indicate a clot. This bedside assessment guides what to do next and ensures you don’t miss a serious condition.

Reapplying the stockings or telling the patient to exercise the leg isn’t appropriate right now because these actions could mask symptoms or worsen a clot risk. Measuring the calf or calling the doctor immediately would be premature without first performing a focused assessment. If you find tenderness or other signs suggestive of DVT, report your findings promptly and follow your facility’s protocol for further evaluation.