A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching with an older adult client who has peripheral artery disease. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

Choice A reason: Applying a heating pad is risky in peripheral artery disease due to reduced sensation, increasing burn risk. Warm environments are safer to promote vasodilation, making this an incorrect instruction, as it could lead to tissue injury rather than safely improving circulation. Choice B reason: Adjusting the thermostat to maintain a warm environment promotes vasodilation in peripheral artery disease, improving blood flow and reducing ischemic pain. This is a safe, effective instruction to include in teaching, as it supports circulation without risking tissue damage in clients with arterial insufficiency. Choice C reason: Antiembolic stockings are used for venous disease to reduce edema, not arterial disease, where they may restrict blood flow, worsening ischemia. This instruction is incorrect, as it could exacerbate peripheral artery disease symptoms, requiring teaching on avoiding compression in arterial insufficiency. Choice D reason: Resting with legs above heart level reduces arterial blood flow to extremities in peripheral artery disease, worsening ischemia. Keeping legs dependent or level promotes perfusion, making this an incorrect instruction, as it contradicts the goal of improving arterial circulation in affected limbs.