Peripheral Vascular Disease Nursing Care Plan: 2 Sample Plans and Interventions

Peripheral vascular disease is reduced blood flow in the arms or legs, most often from plaque in the arteries. Clients may have leg pain when walking, weak pulses, and wounds that heal slowly. Your priorities are protecting the skin, improving circulation, and teaching foot care and risk factor changes.

A · AssessmentD · DiagnosisP · PlanningI · InterventionE · Evaluation

Each care plan below follows the nursing process (ADPIE).

CARE PLAN 1 · NURSING DIAGNOSIS

Ineffective Peripheral Tissue Perfusion

Related to

Narrowed arteries from plaque
Smoking and diabetes

As evidenced by

Weak or absent pedal pulses
Cool, pale, hairless, shiny skin on the legs
Leg pain when walking that eases with rest (intermittent claudication)
Slow-healing wounds

PLANNING · EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Short-term goals

Client's leg pain decreases with a walking plan within the hospital stay

Long-term goals

Client walks farther without pain and has no new wounds

ASSESSMENT

Peripheral pulses with Doppler if needed
Skin color, temperature, and capillary refill
Pain with activity and at rest
Wounds on the feet and legs

INTERVENTIONS AND RATIONALES

INTERVENTION	RATIONALE
Keep the legs level or slightly down for arterial disease	Gravity helps blood flow into the legs. Raising them can reduce flow.
Encourage a walking program as ordered	Walking helps build new blood flow around blockages.
Teach to quit smoking	Nicotine narrows the arteries.
Report pain at rest or sudden loss of pulse right away	These can signal a severe blockage.

EVALUATION

Pulses are present and unchanged or improved
Client walks farther with less pain
Client states plan to stop smoking

CARE PLAN 2 · NURSING DIAGNOSIS

Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity

Risk factors

Poor blood flow to the legs and feet
Decreased sensation from diabetes

PLANNING · EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Short-term goals

Client remains free of new skin breakdown during the hospital stay

Long-term goals

Client performs daily foot checks and stays free of wounds at home

ASSESSMENT

Feet and legs every shift, including between the toes
Shoes and socks for fit
Skin temperature and color

INTERVENTIONS AND RATIONALES

INTERVENTION	RATIONALE
Teach daily foot inspection with a mirror	Early checks catch wounds before they become serious.
Teach to wear well-fitting shoes and never go barefoot	This prevents cuts and pressure injuries.
Avoid heating pads on the legs	Reduced sensation can lead to burns.
Keep skin clean and moisturized, but not between the toes	Dry skin cracks, while moisture between the toes can cause infection.

EVALUATION

Skin stays intact
Client demonstrates daily foot check
Client states safe foot care habits

Practice this in This vs That

Compare arterial and venous disease side by side.

Play This vs That

Quick answers

How do arterial and venous disease differ in leg position?

For arterial disease, keep legs level or slightly down to help blood flow in. For venous disease, raise the legs to help blood return to the heart.

What is intermittent claudication?

Leg pain or cramping with walking that goes away with rest. It is a classic sign of arterial disease.

For learning only. Individualize every care plan to your client, and follow your program, current guidelines, provider orders, and facility policy.