Abdominal Assessment for the Correctional Nurse: Upper Abdominal Pain Abdominal pain is perhaps one of the most frequent complaints listed on a sick call/request to be seen slip in the correctional environment. Changes to routine and diet, stress, and the “unmasking” of symptoms as patients become “detoxed” from substances like alcohol and drugs may contribute…
Heart and Lung Auscultation for the Correctional Nurse Patient assessment/evaluation are critical skills for the correctional nurse. Often, the findings during patient evaluation determine the nursing “next steps”. Can the patient be treated using the Nursing Protocols/Guidelines or does the patient presentation require that a provider be notified? Abnormal findings such as elevated blood pressure,…
Hepatitis for the Correctional Nurse Hepatitis, a general term referring to inflammation of the liver, may result from various causes, both infectious (viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic organisms) and non-infectious (alcohol, drugs, autoimmunediseases, and metabolic diseases). This class will focus on viral hepatitis, which accounts for more than 50% of cases of acute hepatitis in the…