Signs & Symptoms
This autoimmune disorder may cause a "butterfly rash," joint pain, and extreme fatigue.
SLE- Lupus
This common pain reliever class is the first-line treatment for osteoarthritis.
What are NSAIDs?
The priority assessment for an NG tube includes checking for this before feeding.
What is placement confirmation ?
This is the FIRST action when a patient becomes nauseous and begins vomiting.
What is prevent dehydration / give antiemetics?
Chronic GERD increases the risk of this precancerous condition.
What is Barrett’s esophagus?
New leg swelling, foamy urine, and rising blood pressure in a lupus patient suggest this dangerous organ complication.
Lupus Nephritis
This RA medication requires strict monitoring of CBC and liver enzymes and must not be taken during pregnancy.
What is methotrexate?
This population is at the highest risk for hip and vertebral fractures.
What are patients with osteoporosis?
To reduce reflux symptoms, patients with GERD should not assume this position after meals.
What is lying flat?
Instability of this spinal region is a dangerous complication of rheumatoid arthritis.
What is cervical spine instability?
Morning stiffness lasting more than 30 minutes with symmetrical joint swelling points to this disease.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
This medication treats acute gout attacks, not prevention.
What is colchicine?
After spinal surgery, new numbness or inability to move a limb requires this immediate assessment.
What is a neurovascular assessment?
A sudden severe pain in a PUD patient should make the nurse immediately suspect this emergency.
What is perforation?
After an EGD, this finding—more than pain—is the most concerning.
What is a rigid abdomen (possible perforation)?
Sudden severe epigastric pain with a rigid abdomen most likely indicates this life-threatening ulcer complication.
What is perforation?
Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole, treat ulcers and GERD by doing this to stomach acid.
What is decreasing/ suppressing stomach acid production?
This stool change—black, tarry, sticky—indicates an upper GI bleed.
What is melena?
In a lupus patient taking long-term steroids, fever should alert the nurse to this complication.
What is infection?
Failure to eliminate barium can lead to this intestinal emergency.
What is bowel obstruction/impaction?
Chronic widespread pain, sleep disturbance, and “fibro fog” are hallmarks of this condition.
What is fibromyalgia?
This high-dextrose therapy must be given through a central line and increases infection risk.
What is TPN (total parenteral nutrition)?
This electrical test assesses nerve and muscle function and is often used to evaluate chronic pain syndromes.
What is an EMG?
When a patient starts to cough during tube feeding, this is the nurse’s FIRST action.
What is stop the feeding?
This major complication is associated with central lines used for TPN.
What is bloodstream infection/sepsis?