A nurse is assessing a new patient who is diagnosed with PAD. The nurse cannot feel the pulse in the patient's left foot. How should the nurse proceed with assessment?
A) Have the primary care provider order a CT.
B) Apply a tourniquet for 3 to 5 minutes and then reassess.
C) Elevate the extremity and attempt to palpate the pulses.
D) Use Doppler ultrasound to identify the pulses.
Ans: D
Feedback:
When pulses cannot be reliably palpated, a hand-held continuous wave (CW) Doppler ultrasound device may be used to hear (insonate) the blood flow in vessels. CT is not normally warranted and the application of a tourniquet poses health risks and will not aid assessment. Elevating the extremity would make palpation more difficult.
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