Question

A client in the emergency department states, "I have always taken a morning walk, but lately my leg cramps and hurts after just a few minutes of walking. The pain goes away after I stop walking, though." Based on this statement, which priority assessment should the nurse complete?

A.Check for the presence of tortuous veins bilaterally on the legs.
B.Ask about any skin color changes that occur in response to cold.
C.Attempt to palpate the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses.
D.Assess for unilateral swelling and tenderness of either leg.

Answer 1

A) Check for the presence of tortous veins bilaterally on the legs.

Step-by-step explanation:

Options B and D can´t be consider as a priority assessment because she says she is used to walking and if she does it with some frequency, the muscles are used to the changes of temperature and the swelling should be bilateral not unilateral.

Considering the fact that she is having leg cramps these are related with a slow blood circulation. This slow blood circulation can be also seeing by tortous veins bilaterally on legs, making it the priority assessment for the nurse to complete.