Teaching patients with peripheral vascular disease

The teaching of a patient with peripheral vascular disease offers many challenges to the nurse. Although content should be understood and utilized by the patient and significant others, of primary importance is the belief that the learner is the curriculum and that his perception of self and his problems is the focus of teaching. The learning needs generally should be considered as the needs of an adult individual, who has many past experiences and an interest in the present and future. This patient may experience pain from his disease and may require the assistance and support of others. If the purpose of treatment is to improve circulation and prevent trauma and infection, then patient instruction must be recognized as a vital tool in therapy. But the nurse cognizant of the progressiveness of peripheral vascular disease must capitalized on the teachable moments--when the patient is ready and the learning is needed.