Question

A nurse in the clinic is assessing the lower extremities and angles of a patient who has a history of peripheral arterial disease. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A) Warm, red, and swollen lower extremities.

B) Decreased hair growth on the legs.

C) Pitting edema in the ankles.

D) Cyanosis and coolness of the lower extremities.

Answer 1

The nurse assessing a patient with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) should expect to find decreased hair growth on the legs.

Step-by-step explanation:

In patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), the nurse should expect findings such as decreased hair growth on the legs. This is because PAD leads to reduced blood flow to the extremities, which can result in inadequate nourishment to the hair follicles. Other common findings in PAD include leg pain when walking (intermittent claudication), skin ulcers, bluish skin, cold skin, and poor nail and hair growth in the affected leg(s).