Cardiac-Vascular Nursing (CVRN) Practice Exam

When assessing for intermittent claudication, what question is most appropriate to ask the patient regarding leg pain?

1. Does shortness of breath accompany the leg pain?

2. Does this same type of pain occur without activity?

3. Is the leg pain relieved by rest?

4. Is the leg pain relieved with elevation?

The correct answer is: Is the leg pain relieved by rest?

When assessing for intermittent claudication, asking whether the leg pain is relieved by rest is crucial because this symptom is a hallmark feature of the condition. Intermittent claudication commonly occurs during activity, such as walking, due to inadequate blood flow to the muscles, typically in the legs. Patients often experience pain that subsides after they stop the activity and rest. This characteristic helps differentiate intermittent claudication from other types of leg pain that may not improve with rest. Other options, while relevant to patient assessment, do not specifically address the classic pattern associated with intermittent claudication. For example, shortness of breath may concern other heart or respiratory conditions but does not specifically indicate claudication. Pain that occurs without activity might suggest a different underlying issue, possibly indicating conditions like neuropathy; therefore, it is not a direct indicator of claudication. Lastly, while pain relieved by elevation can suggest venous issues, it does not align with the mechanisms of pain relief seen in intermittent claudication, where rest is the key factor.