Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Option B, washing the lower extremities with mild soap, drying the legs, and applying a light moisturizer, indicates effective teaching for a client with peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Proper hygiene, including gentle washing with mild soap, thorough drying to prevent moisture-related skin breakdown, and moisturizing to prevent dry skin and promote circulation, are key components of self-care for individuals with PVD. Option A is incorrect because sitting with a pillow behind the knees does not specifically address PVD self-care. Option C is incorrect because crossing the left leg over the right while sitting does not relate to appropriate PVD management. Option D is incorrect because smoking in any form is detrimental to vascular health and should be discouraged in PVD management.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Assessing postural blood pressures is important in determining if the client may be experiencing orthostatic hypotension, which could have contributed to the fall. Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden drop in blood pressure that can occur when a person stands up from a sitting or lying position. Older adults on antihypertensive medications are at increased risk for orthostatic hypotension. By monitoring postural blood pressures, the nurse can identify fluctuations in blood pressure that may put the client at risk for falls and implement appropriate interventions to prevent future falls. Monitoring serum sodium levels and creatinine levels are important for detecting electrolyte imbalances or kidney dysfunction but do not directly address the issue of orthostatic hypotension related to falls. Monitoring blood pressure every 2 hours may not provide valuable information on postural blood pressure changes that are associated with orthostatic hypotension.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Swelling in one leg with edema is a classic sign of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). DVT occurs when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs. This can lead to swelling in the affected leg due to the impaired venous return caused by the blood clot. It is important for the nurse to recognize this sign because if left untreated, DVT can lead to serious complications such as pulmonary embolism. Therefore, the nurse should further assess the client and notify the healthcare provider for appropriate management.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: After an embolus becomes trapped in the pulmonary microvasculature, dead space increases. Dead space refers to the portion of the lung that is ventilated but not perfused, resulting in reduced gas exchange. When a pulmonary embolus blocks blood flow within a pulmonary vessel, it leads to a mismatch between ventilation and perfusion in the affected lung region. This mismatch results in increased dead space, as ventilation continues in areas that are not effectively perfused. As dead space increases, the overall efficiency of gas exchange in the lung is impaired, potentially leading to hypoxemia.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: When performing medication teaching for the client's family about fibrinolytic therapy with alteplase (rt-PA), the nurse should include information that this medication is administered to break up existing clots and increase cerebral blood flow. rt-PA works by converting plasminogen to plasmin, which helps dissolve clots and restore blood flow to the brain. It is used specifically for ischemic strokes, not hemorrhagic strokes, and is most effective when administered within 3 hours (up to 4.5 hours in some cases) of the stroke symptoms starting. It is associated with potential serious complications, including an increased risk of bleeding, which the nurse should also educate the family about.