A nurse is caring for a patient with gout who is experiencing severe joint pain and swelling.
The nurse asks the patient about their current medications.
Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate in this situation?

Choice A rationale:

"Administering prescribed medications." This is a correct choice.

Gout management often involves the use of medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine, and urate-lowering drugs, to alleviate symptoms and reduce uric acid levels.

Choice B rationale:

"Encouraging the patient to elevate the affected joint and apply ice packs." This is a correct choice.

Elevating the affected joint and applying ice packs can help reduce pain and inflammation during a gout attack.

These measures are part of symptomatic relief strategies for gout.

Choice C rationale:

"Promoting weight gain and sedentary lifestyle." This choice is incorrect.

Promoting weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle are not appropriate interventions for managing gout.

Gout is often associated with obesity and sedentary lifestyles, and the focus should be on weight management and encouraging physical activity rather than promoting weight gain and inactivity.

Choice D rationale:

"Assisting with joint immobilization if necessary." This choice is not generally recommended for managing gout.

While immobilization may be necessary in cases of severe pain or joint damage, it is not a primary nursing intervention for gout management.

Choice E rationale:

"Providing education on increasing purine intake." This choice is incorrect.

Increasing purine intake is not a suitable strategy for managing gout.

In fact, gout management typically involves reducing purine intake to lower uric acid levels and prevent gout attacks.

Choice A rationale:

"Are you taking any medications for pain relief?" This choice is not the most appropriate in this situation.

While it is important to address the patient's pain, understanding the medications aimed at treating the underlying cause, which is high uric acid levels, is more crucial.

Pain relief medications may provide symptomatic relief but do not address the root cause of gout.

Choice B rationale:

"Are you taking any medications to lower your uric acid levels?" This is the correct choice.

Gout is primarily caused by elevated uric acid levels in the blood, leading to the formation of urate crystals in the joints.

Lowering uric acid levels is a key component of managing and preventing gout attacks.

Asking about medications that target this aspect of the condition is essential for the patient's care.

Choice C rationale:

"Are you taking any medications to treat kidney stones?" This choice is not the most appropriate in this context.

While kidney stones can be associated with gout due to the deposition of urate crystals in the kidneys, the primary concern in gout management is to control uric acid levels and prevent joint inflammation.

Kidney stone treatment may be relevant but is not the immediate focus of care.

Choice D rationale:

"Are you taking any medications to promote weight loss?" This choice is not relevant to gout management.

While weight loss can be beneficial for some patients with gout, especially if they are overweight, it is not a primary medication-based treatment for the condition.

Lowering uric acid levels and managing pain are more critical aspects of gout care.