The nurse is caring for a 50-year-old patient who complains of ...

[james9437]

The nurse is caring for a 50-year-old patient who complains of tingling in his toes. Which other assessment finding would cause the nurse to suspect arterial insufficiency?
 
  a. Equal warmth in bilateral feet
  b. Shiny, hairless legs
  c. Thin, brittle toenails
  d. Pedal edema

Question 2

The nurse is caring for a patient with type 1 diabetes who is diaphoretic and clammy. The patient complains of hunger but denies pain. The nurse performs a bedside blood glucose check. What should the nurse do next?
 
  a. Administer insulin as scheduled.
  b. Notify the charge nurse.
  c. Give 6 ounces of orange juice.
  d. Document the findings.

[aadams68]

Answer to Question 1

B
To distinguish arterial insufficiency, instruct the patient to dangle the feet. In arterial insuffi-ciency, feet display delayed color return, and if severe peripheral arterial disease is present, the dangling feet soon take on a dusky red color (rubor). The skin may be shiny, taunt, and hairless. Equal warmth indicates equal and sufficient blood flow to the extremities. The nails would be thick rather than thin with arterial insufficiency, and pedal edema is an indication of venous in-sufficiency.

Answer to Question 2

C
These findings are consistent with hypoglycemia; manifestations of hypoglycemia include tre-mulousness, hunger, headache, pallor, sweating, palpitations, blurred vision, and weakness. Management includes providing a source of quick-acting carbohydrate/glucose such as orange juice. The nurse should withhold the patient's scheduled insulin at this time. The nurse should document the findings and then notify the charge nurse.