Author Question: The nurse is caring for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The patient complains of ... (Read 138 times)

laurencescou · **on:** Jun 25, 2018

The nurse is caring for a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The patient complains of severe fatigue, a butterfly rash, and joint pain. Which nursing intervention(s) is/are most appropriate for this patient? (Select all that apply.)

a. Encourage the use of a sun lamp to help with the rash.
b. Assess pain control measures that have helped the patient in the past.
c. Assist the patient with planning rest pe-riods throughout the day.
d. Remind the patient to avoid contact with people who have an infection.
e. Ensure the patient understands the impor-tance of her medication regimen.

Question 2

The home health nurse is caring for a patient with a blood pressure reading of 200/160 . The patient denies any discomfort. The nurse should immediately contact the health care provider to report that the patient is experiencing which problem?

a. Primary hypertension
b. Hypertensive crisis
c. Essential hypertension
d. Secondary hypertension

adammoses97 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 25, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B, C, D, E
Any type of sunlight tends to worsen the rash of a patient with SLE and can cause a generalized flare-up of the disease. Pain control measures that have previously been effective should be con-tinued; intense fatigue is a common problem with SLE, so planned rest periods are necessary; infections often exacerbate the disease, so it is important to decrease the chance of the patient with SLE from being exposed to others with infections; and the medication regimen for the SLE patient should be maintained in order to prevent flare-ups of the disease or other body systems from being affected by SLE.

Answer to Question 2

B
The diastolic pressure rising to readings between 140 and 170 and the patient being asympto-matic indicates hypertensive crisis.