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The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with Buerger's Disease (thromboangiitis obliterans). The nurse will prioritize educating the client about implementing which intervention?

A. Low fat diet: While a low-fat diet can be beneficial for overall cardiovascular health, it is not the most critical intervention for a client with Buerger's Disease. The primary concern is addressing the underlying causes of the disease rather than just dietary modifications.

B. Blood glucose control: This is important for clients with diabetes but is not specific to Buerger's Disease. Effective management of blood glucose levels does not directly address the primary issues associated with this condition.

C. Blood pressure control: Managing blood pressure is important for overall cardiovascular health; however, it is not the most immediate concern for a client with Buerger's Disease compared to smoking cessation.

D. Smoking cessation: This is the most critical intervention. Buerger's Disease is strongly associated with tobacco use, and smoking cessation is essential to halt the progression of the disease and improve symptoms. Educating the client about the importance of quitting smoking can lead to significant improvements in their condition and overall vascular health.

A) Apply cold therapy to the affected leg: Cold therapy may be used for certain conditions to reduce swelling and pain, but in the case of suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) indicated by redness, warmth, tenderness, and pain in the calf, cold therapy is not appropriate. Instead, the focus should be on confirming the diagnosis before applying any treatment.

B) Monitor Homan's sign: Homan's sign involves dorsiflexion of the foot to assess for pain in the calf, which can suggest DVT. However, it is no longer considered a reliable diagnostic tool. Instead, confirmation through imaging or other diagnostic measures is preferred, so simply monitoring this sign would not be sufficient in this situation.

C) Obtain a venous duplex ultrasound: A venous duplex ultrasound is the gold standard for

diagnosing DVT. Given the client’s symptoms—redness, warmth, tenderness, and pain in the calf—the appropriate order is to obtain this ultrasound to confirm the presence of a thrombus. This imaging study provides critical information for diagnosis and subsequent management.

D) Obtain impedance plethysmography: While impedance plethysmography can assess venous flow and help diagnose DVT, it is less commonly used than venous duplex ultrasound. The more direct and widely accepted method for diagnosing DVT in this scenario is the ultrasound, making this option less suitable as the initial order.