Best NCLEX-RN Practice: The Client with Vascular Disease

The NCLEX title covers:

• The Client with Peripheral Vascular Disease
• The Client with Peripheral Vascular Disease Having an Amputation
• The Client with Buerger’s Disease
• The Client with Vasospastic Disorder
• The Client with Thrombophlebitis and Embolus Formation
• The Client with an Aneurysm
• The Client with Stasis Ulcers
• The Client with Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease
• Managing Care Quality and Safety
• Answers, Rationales, and Test Taking Strategies

The vascular system is the body’s network of blood vessels. It includes the arteries, veins and capillaries that carry blood to and from the heart. Problems of the vascular system are common and can be serious. Arteries can become thick and stiff, a problem called atherosclerosis. Blood clots can clog vessels and block blood flow to the heart or brain. Weakened blood vessels can burst, causing bleeding inside the body.

Vascular disease is caused by inflammation and weakness of the veins and arteries – and by the build up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels.

The accumulation of these deposits happens over a long period of time and can be virtually symptomless until the arteries and veins become so damaged, the blood flow to vital organs and muscles is compromised and causes lack of mobility, pain and tissue death.

Vascular disease is the most common precursor to coronary heart disease and heart attack, it also causes stroke by affecting the arteries in your neck.

One of the most common forms of vascular disease is peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which is when the arteries in your legs are affected. It is estimated that 9% of the population suffer from PAD, which causes painful legs when walking, ulceration and amputation.

What are the risk factors of vascular disease?

The exact cause of atherosclerosis is unknown, but several risk factors accelerate the formation of fatty deposits in the arteries:

• being male
• family history of vascular disease, angina, heart attacks or stroke
• high blood pressure
• smoking
• diabetes
• being overweight
• high cholesterol levels
• an unhealthy diet
• lack of exercise
• stress

FURTHER READING:

• NCLEX: Care of the Client with Respiratory Disorders

• NCLEX: Legal Aspects of Nursing

• NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance; Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family

• NCLEX: Care of the Client with Endocrine Disorders

• NCLEX-RN: Gerontological Nursing

• NCLEX-RN: Psychiatric Nursing

• EKG: Axis, Hypertrophy, and Bundle Branch Blocks

• NCLEX: Anticancer Drugs

• NCLEX: Antiviral Drugs

• NCLEX: Eye disorders