NR507 Week 1: Open Forum Discussion

The disease process assigned to me was rheumatoid arthritis (RA). What triggers this disease process is unknown, however, it starts when the immune systems have a glitch in it and once active it causes inflammation of the joints causing discomfort, swelling, pain, and difficulty utilizing the joint to its fullest capacity. “The pathophysiology of RA involves chronic inflammation of the synovial membrane, which can destroy articular cartilage and juxtaarticular bone” (Aletaha & Smolen, 2018, p. 1361).

Within the hospital, many patients pass through who are experiencing discomfort from RA and whenever I encountered Methotrexate on the medication record, I immediately knew this patient suffered from this condition even without checking their history. I have not had the privilege of studying the depths of the disease process or monitor the progression due to working with patients acutely but have taken part in administering medication to help handle the effects of the disease while under my care. This is a disease I will continue to encounter with the population group of young adults to the elderly that I care for in the hospital. As these patients continue to suffer from RA and continue to seek acute treatment other signs of the progression of this autoimmune condition will be evident not only affecting the joints of a person’s body but also contributing to risk associated with lymphoma, scarring within the lung, hardened arteries affecting the heart, and infections associated with a compromised immune system related to medication used to combat the disease process (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research [MFMER], 2019).

Cindy

References

Aletaha, D., & Smolen, J. S. (2018). Diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis: A review. JAMA, 320(13), 1360–1372. Doi:/10.1001/jama.2018.13103

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2019). Rheumatoid arthritis overview. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20353648.NR507 Week 1: Open Forum Discussion.