As nurses, we want to provide quality and appropriate health care to our patients. In the correctional environment, we understand that our patients can’t just decide to go to another practice or bring themselves to the urgent care or emergency department for their symptoms, and so it is even more important that we collect the necessary subjective information and complete…
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Correctional Nursing Alert: Ectopic Pregnancy
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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