Assignment: Disorders of the Veins and Arteries
Advanced practice nurses often treat patients with vein and
artery disorders such as chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and deep venous
thrombosis (DVT). While the symptoms of both disorders are noticeable, these
symptoms are sometimes mistaken for signs of other conditions, making the
disorders difficult to diagnose. Nurses must examine all symptoms and rule out
other potential disorders before diagnosing and prescribing treatment for
patients. In this Assignment, you explore the epidemiology, pathophysiology,
and clinical presentation of CVI and DVT.
To Prepare
Review the section “Diseases of the Veins” (pp. 598-599) in
Chapter 23 of the Huether and McCance text. Identify the pathophysiology of
chronic venous insufficiency and deep venous thrombosis. Consider the
similarities and differences between these disorders.
Select a patient factor different from the one you selected
in this week’s Discussion: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior. Think
about how the factor you selected might impact the pathophysiology of CVI and
DVT. Reflect on how you would diagnose and prescribe treatment of these
disorders for a patient based on the factor you selected.
Review the “Mind Maps—Dementia, Endocarditis, and
Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)” media in the Week 2 Learning
Resources. Use the examples in the media as a guide to construct two mind
maps—one for chronic venous insufficiency and one for venous thrombosis.
Consider the epidemiology and clinical presentation of both chronic venous
insufficiency and deep venous thrombosis.
To Complete
Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:
Compare the pathophysiology of chronic venous insufficiency
and deep venous thrombosis. Describe how venous thrombosis is different from
arterial thrombosis.
Explain how the patient factor you selected might impact the
pathophysiology of CVI and DVT. Describe how you would diagnose and prescribe
treatment of these disorders for a patient based on the factor you selected.
Construct two mind maps—one for chronic venous insufficiency
and one for deep venous thrombosis. Include the epidemiology, pathophysiology,
and clinical presentation, as well as the diagnosis and treatment you explained
in your paper.
