RLE 17

• Common or concerning symptoms of the Cardiovascular System include pain in the arms or legs, intermittent claudication, cold, numbness, or pallor in the legs; hair loss, swelling in the calves, legs or feet, and swelling with redness or tenderness.
• The instructor should discuss the following topics in the main lesson: the assessment of the Cardiovascular System, the anatomy and physiology of blood vessels, the health history, and the physical examination.
• This closure activity is to evaluate what the students learned after the discussion and the activity.
• Three things you learned:
• Two things that you’d like to learn more about:
• One question you still have:
• The review of anatomy and physiology of blood vessels includes arteries, veins, deep and superficial Venous System of the Legs, the Lymphatic system and Lymph Nodes, fluid exchange and the Capillary bed.
• The purpose of the history questions is to identify symptoms of peripheral arterial and venous disease.
• The nurse can utilize the OLD CART mnemonic to ask questions in order to obtain a full description of the condition.
• A difference between the highest and lowest systolic pressure of 12 mm Hg indicates obstructive airway disease, pericardial tamponade, possible constrictive pericarditis, or peripheral arterial disease.
• The vasa vasorum is found in the adventitia of the artery.
• In Raynaud disease, the nurse would expect to find decreased wrist pulses when assessing the wrist pulses.
• Communicating veins connect the great and small saphenous veins.
• Bilateral coolness of the legs and feet is most often caused by inadequate arterial circulation.
• Hepatic disorders can cause edema.
• Edema is produced by mechanisms such as arterial insufficiency, low plasma protein levels, capillary leak syndrome, and increased capillary blood pressure.
• The lymph system functions to drain lymph fluid from the vascular bed.
• Epitrochlear nodes are difficult or impossible to identify in most normal people.
• The nurse is testing the valvular competency of the saphenous system by performing the Allen test.
• Palpating the pulses to assess the arterial circulation is a method to diagnose peripheral vascular disease.
• A long-term complication of peripheral vascular disease is thickened skin.
• Palpating the temperature of both legs and feet simultaneously with the backs of your hands is a method to diagnose peripheral vascular disease.
• The Virchow triad consists of arterial stasis, hypercoagulability, and vessel wall damage.
• Palpating for edema or pitting edema, feeling the thickness of the skin, and then gently palpating for the firm cord of a thrombosed vein in the area is a method to diagnose peripheral vascular disease.
• The instructor will prepare 10-15 questions that can enhance critical thinking skills.
• Health promotion and counseling is a crucial aspect of peripheral vascular disease management.
• Palpating for superficial inguinal nodes is a method to diagnose peripheral vascular disease.
• If you suspect arterial insufficiency, feel for the brachial pulse.
• The Ankle-Brachial Index, evaluating the competency of venous valves, pulsus alterans and Paradoxical Pulse, is a special technique used in diagnosing peripheral vascular disease.
• High impact facts and tables are a part of peripheral vascular disease management.
• Noting the location, size, and depth of any ulcers in the skin is crucial in diagnosing peripheral vascular disease.
• Palpating the temperature of the arms and hands simultaneously with the backs of your fingers is a method to diagnose peripheral vascular disease.
• The Allen test, evaluating arterial supply to the legs, is a special technique used in diagnosing peripheral vascular disease.
• Palpating the radial pulse with the pads of your fingers on the flexor surface of the wrist laterally, partially flexing the patient’s wrist may help you feel this pulse.
• Feel for the epitrochlear nodes.
• Pulses may be palpated simultaneously to facilitate comparison.
• Brownish areas or increased pigmentation near the ankles are a sign of peripheral vascular disease.
• There are two common systems for grading the amplitude of arterial pulses.
• During the face to face interaction with the students, the instructor will rationalize the answers and encourage students to ask questions and discuss among their classmates.
• The instructor will explain