Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Practice Test

A patient with an arterial ulcer over the left lateral malleolus complains of pain at the ulcer site. The pain is most commonly caused by:

1. Edema

2. Exudate

3. Infection

4. Ischemia

The correct answer is: Ischemia

In this scenario, the patient has an arterial ulcer, which is typically caused by ischemia or inadequate blood supply to the area. Ischemia leads to tissue damage, which in turn causes pain at the ulcer site. Therefore, the pain experienced by the patient is most commonly caused by ischemia. Edema, exudate, and infection are potential complications associated with ulcers; however, in this case, the patient's pain is primarily attributed to the underlying ischemia characteristic of arterial ulcers.