How to do a neurovascular check of a limb
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
After an injury, a cast or surgery on a limb, neurovascular checks catch poor blood flow and compartment syndrome early.
Step by step
Compare both sides
Always check the injured limb against the other one. [1]
Color and temperature
Pale, blue or cold below the injury is a warning. [1]
Capillary refill
Press a nail bed; color should return in under 2 to 3 seconds. [1]
Pulses
Below the injury; use a Doppler if you cannot feel it. [1]
Sensation and movement
Can the patient feel your touch and wiggle fingers or toes? [1]
Pain
Pain out of proportion, or pain when you gently stretch the fingers or toes, suggests compartment syndrome: call right away. [1]
Record and repeat
Write findings with time and repeat as ordered. [1]
Common errors
- Checking only the pulse.
- Not comparing with the other limb.
- Treating rising pain with more painkillers only.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)
- OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills (CC BY 4.0)
Steps adapted from Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) and OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills, licensed under CC BY 4.0. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.