Varicose Veins — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
Incompetent valves → venous poolingAlso known as: bulging twisted leg veins · swollen surface veins
Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Varicose Veins on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
🩺📒 The 1-minute cheat sheet
⚠️ Cause
- Faulty valves → backflow
- Prolonged standing, pregnancy
🩺 Signs
- Dilated, tortuous veins
- Aching, heaviness, edema
- Worse end of day
🎓 Teach
- Elevate legs above heart
- Compression stockings AM
- Avoid crossing legs, standing
📌 Tx
- Sclerotherapy, vein ligation
- Walking improves return
📚 Varicose Veins — full study notes
The cheat sheet above is your quick recall card. These notes go deeper — what it is, what to do first, what must be reported, and what to teach.
Key points
Understand these first- Result from incompetent (faulty) valves causing venous blood to pool and dilate the veins.
- Risk factors: prolonged standing, pregnancy, obesity, age, and family history.
- Symptoms include aching, heaviness, fatigue, and itching of the legs, worse with standing.
- Trendelenburg test assesses valve competence; relief comes with leg elevation.
- Conservative care: compression stockings, leg elevation, and weight management.
- Treatments include sclerotherapy, laser/radiofrequency ablation, and vein ligation/stripping.
Nursing priorities
What to do, in order- Teach use of graduated compression stockings, applied before getting out of bed.
- Encourage frequent leg elevation above heart level and regular walking.
- Advise avoiding prolonged standing or sitting and crossing the legs.
- Promote weight management and skin care to prevent breakdown.
- Provide post-procedure care and monitor for bleeding or signs of DVT.
Red flags — report now
Escalate immediately- Sudden unilateral calf pain, warmth, and swelling may indicate deep vein thrombosis — report now.
- A ruptured varicosity with significant bleeding requires elevation, pressure, and urgent care.
- Skin ulceration or signs of infection over a varicosity need evaluation.
Patient teaching
What patients must know- Wear compression stockings during the day and remove at night.
- Elevate the legs several times daily and walk regularly to aid venous return.
- Avoid standing or sitting for long periods; do not cross the legs at the knees.
- Maintain a healthy weight and protect leg skin from injury.
❓ Varicose Veins: NCLEX FAQs
What are the priority nursing interventions for Varicose Veins?
Teach use of graduated compression stockings, applied before getting out of bed. Encourage frequent leg elevation above heart level and regular walking. Advise avoiding prolonged standing or sitting and crossing the legs. Promote weight management and skin care to prevent breakdown.
What are the warning signs of Varicose Veins a nurse must report?
Sudden unilateral calf pain, warmth, and swelling may indicate deep vein thrombosis — report now. A ruptured varicosity with significant bleeding requires elevation, pressure, and urgent care. Skin ulceration or signs of infection over a varicosity need evaluation.
What do I need to know about Varicose Veins for the NCLEX?
Result from incompetent (faulty) valves causing venous blood to pool and dilate the veins. Risk factors: prolonged standing, pregnancy, obesity, age, and family history. Symptoms include aching, heaviness, fatigue, and itching of the legs, worse with standing. Trendelenburg test assesses valve competence; relief comes with leg elevation.
What patient teaching is important for Varicose Veins?
Wear compression stockings during the day and remove at night. Elevate the legs several times daily and walk regularly to aid venous return. Avoid standing or sitting for long periods; do not cross the legs at the knees. Maintain a healthy weight and protect leg skin from injury.
Quick Tip
Result from incompetent (faulty) valves causing venous blood to pool and dilate the veins.
📖 Related Topics
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