A nurse is caring for a client who has peripheral vascular disease and reports difficulty sleeping because of cold feet. Which of the following nursing actions should the nurse take to promote the client's comfort?

The nurse should instruct the client to adjust the thermostat so that the environment is warm because cold temperatures can cause vasoconstriction and worsen the symptoms of PAD, such as pain, numbness, and poor wound healing. The client should also avoid exposure to cold weather and wear warm clothing.

1. Apply a heating pad on a low setting to help relieve leg pain is wrong because it can cause burns, vasodilation, and increased blood flow to the legs, which can increase the risk of bleeding and edema in PAD.
2. Wear antiembolic stockings during the day is wrong because they can impair arterial circulation and cause ischemia and tissue damage in PAD. Antiembolic stockings are used to prevent venous thromboembolism, not arterial disease.

Rest with the legs above heart level is wrong because it can decrease arterial blood flow to the legs and worsen ischemia and pain in PAD. The client should rest with the legs at or below heart level to promote arterial circulation.

Hypokalemia is a low serum potassium level, usually below 3.5 mEq/L. It can be caused by diuretics that increase potassium excretion, such as thiazides or loop diuretics. Potassium is essential for normal muscle and nerve function, and hypokalemia can impair cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle activity. Symptoms of hypokalemia include fatigue, weakness, muscle cramps, arrhythmias, constipation, and hyporeflexia.

1. Dyspnea is difficulty or labored breathing that can be caused by various respiratory or cardiac conditions, such as asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, or heart failure. It is not a specific sign of hypokalemia, although severe hypokalemia can affect respiratory muscle function and cause respiratory failure.
2. Oliguria is a reduced urine output, usually less than 400 mL per day or 30 mL per hour. It can be caused by various renal or fluid balance disorders, such as acute kidney injury, dehydration, or shock. It is not a specific sign of hypokalemia, although severe hypokalemia can impair renal function and cause renal failure.
3. Pitting edema is a swelling of the tissues that leaves an indentation when pressed with a finger. It can be caused by various fluid retention disorders, such as heart failure, liver cirrhosis, or nephrotic syndrome. It is not a specific sign of hypokalemia, although severe hypokalemia can affect fluid and electrolyte balance and cause edema.