A young woman in custody at a large urban jail had continuing abdominal pain over a 14 hour period. She was found unresponsive in her cell and rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Autopsy revealed a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. What assessments and testing should have been done for this woman? The word “ectopic” means out of…
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Ibuprofen and NSAIDs: Risks and Benefits
Typically, our nursing guidelines/protocols include ibuprofen for sprains and strains, and nursing staff should follow the protocols of their agency. However, nursing staff should also be aware that the use of NSAIDs in the treatment of muscle injuries is somewhat controversial. The mechanism of action of NSAIDs includes suppression of the inflammatory response with a subsequent reduction in pain and…
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Correctional Nurse Clinical Update: Sprains and Strains
Ms. McLaughlin arrives in medical with a limping gait favoring her right leg. You are the nurse in the clinic and note that she is grimacing every time she puts her foot down. The patient states that she was playing basketball and her foot was planted, but then she twisted her body to shoot the basket and felt a sharp…
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