RHEUMATIC DISORDERS
This autoimmune disorder causes chronic synovial inflammation that can eventually result in cartilage and bone destruction.
What is rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?
These five findings are commonly assessed when evaluating a patient for neurovascular compromise following a musculoskeletal injury.
What are pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesia, and paralysis?
The nurse recognizes this classic group of Parkinson disease manifestations: resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability.
What are the major motor manifestations of Parkinson disease?
This medication class is commonly used to reduce inflammation and pain in inflammatory rheumatic disorders but requires monitoring for gastrointestinal and renal complications.
What are NSAIDs?
When applying the nursing process to a patient with a rheumatic disorder, this is the first step.
What is assessment?
A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus develops edema, hypertension, proteinuria, and hematuria. The nurse should suspect involvement of this organ.
What are the kidneys?
A patient with a tibial fracture reports severe pain that is not relieved by opioids. Passive movement of the toes significantly increases the pain. The lower leg is tense and swollen. The nurse should suspect this emergency.
What is compartment syndrome?
A patient with myasthenia gravis reports increasing difficulty swallowing and has a weak cough. The nurse's highest priority is assessment of this body system.
What is the respiratory system?
Methotrexate is commonly used in rheumatoid arthritis as a member of this medication class that can slow disease progression.
What are disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)?
A patient with Parkinson disease begins coughing while eating and develops a wet, gurgling voice. The nurse's priority intervention is to address this problem.
What is aspiration risk/airway protection?
This laboratory test is highly associated with rheumatoid arthritis and is more specific for the disease than rheumatoid factor.
What are anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies?
A patient with osteoarthritis reports knee pain that worsens with activity and brief morning stiffness. This disorder primarily results from degeneration of this joint structure.
What is articular cartilage?
This neurologic disorder is characterized by immune-mediated destruction of myelin in the central nervous system.
What is multiple sclerosis (MS)?
A patient with Parkinson disease receives carbidopa/levodopa. The nurse should recognize that this medication is intended primarily to improve these motor symptoms.
What are bradykinesia, rigidity, and other motor symptoms of Parkinson disease?
A patient receiving immunosuppressive therapy for an inflammatory rheumatic disorder develops a temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F). The nurse should first assess for this complication.
What is infection?
A patient with gout has an acutely painful, red, swollen great toe. Joint aspiration reveals needle-shaped crystals. These crystals are composed of this substance.
What is monosodium urate?
A patient with diabetes has a chronic foot wound, fever, purulent drainage, and elevated inflammatory markers. MRI demonstrates infection involving the bone. The nurse recognizes this condition as:
What is osteomyelitis?
A patient with ALS has progressive dysphagia, weight loss, and a weak cough. The nurse should prioritize interventions directed toward preventing this complication.
What is aspiration?
A patient with myasthenia gravis is prescribed pyridostigmine. This medication improves neuromuscular transmission by inhibiting this enzyme.
What is acetylcholinesterase?
A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus develops increasing edema, elevated blood pressure, and decreased urine output. The nurse should prioritize monitoring this laboratory value to evaluate renal function.
What is serum creatinine?
A 74-year-old patient reports a new severe temporal headache, jaw pain while chewing, and an episode of blurred vision. The nurse recognizes this as a potentially serious complication of this inflammatory disorder.
What is giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis)?
A patient with a suspected fracture has increasing pain, numbness, and weakness distal to the injury. Although a pulse is still present, the nurse should recognize that this finding does not rule out this complication.
What is neurovascular compromise/compartment syndrome?
A patient with Alzheimer disease repeatedly attempts to leave the facility and cannot remember where she lives. The nurse's immediate priority is not correcting her memory but addressing this concern.
What is patient safety/wandering prevention?
A patient taking long-term corticosteroids should be monitored closely for infection, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, and this important medication-related issue.
What is adrenal suppression/need to avoid abrupt discontinuation?
A patient with myasthenia gravis has increasing dysphagia, difficulty clearing secretions, a weak cough, and declining respiratory function. The nurse recognizes that this is the highest priority because the patient is at risk for:
What is acute respiratory failure?