Question

A nurse is assessing a client who has Raynaud's disease. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

a. Butterfly rash over the cheeks and nose
b. Report of pain in the joints of the lower extremities
c. Blanching of the fingers and toes
d. Scaly patches over the knees and elbows

Answer 1

In the assessment of Raynaud's disease, the nurse should expect to find blanching of the fingers and toes, reflecting the characteristic episodes of decreased blood flow and subsequent color changes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse assessing a client who has Raynaud's disease should expect to find blanching of the fingers and toes upon examination. Raynaud's disease is characterized by episodes of decreased blood flow to the extremities, often in response to cold or stress, leading to discoloration of the affected areas. The fingers and toes can turn white (blanch) and then often blue, and they may become red upon warming or relief of stress. This discoloration sequence is a hallmark of the condition and helps distinguish it from other diseases with similar symptoms.