Postpartum assessment for thrombophlebitis; which nursing action is indicated?

• A. Palpate for pedal pulses.
• B. Ask the client about pain in the calf area.
• C. Assess for the presence of vaginal hematoma.
• D. Ask the client to ambulate and assess for the presence of pain.

Answer: (B)

Calf pain or tenderness is a key sign of thrombophlebitis (DVT) in the postpartum period, so the most appropriate nursing action is to ask the client about any new or worsening pain in the calf area. This directly screens for potential venous clots and guides the need for further assessment, such as imaging, and closer monitoring.

Palpating pedal pulses looks at arterial flow and isn’t reliable for detecting a venous clot. Assessing for a vaginal hematoma addresses postpartum bleeding complications rather than thrombophlebitis. Asking the client to ambulate and assess for pain isn’t a focused assessment for detecting a DVT and isn’t the primary way to screen for this condition.