A nurse is educating a group of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) about complications.
Select all that apply:

Choice A rationale:

Administering nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be part of the pain management plan for SCD, but it is not the most appropriate immediate intervention for severe pain.

NSAIDs can be used for mild to moderate pain, but severe pain in SCD often requires stronger analgesics.

Choice B rationale:

Providing emotional support and distraction techniques is appropriate for managing the patient's pain.

SCD pain crises can be excruciating, and emotional support, along with distraction techniques, can help the patient cope with the pain.

These interventions can be used alongside pain medications.

Choice C rationale:

Suggesting stem cell transplantation to cure the disease is not an appropriate immediate intervention for managing severe pain.

Stem cell transplantation is a complex and long-term treatment option for SCD, and it does not provide immediate relief from pain.

Choice D rationale:

Encouraging the patient to avoid triggers such as cold and stress is important for preventing pain crises in SCD, but it is not the most appropriate immediate intervention for managing severe pain during a crisis.

Pain relief measures should be prioritized to alleviate the patient's suffering.

Choice A rationale:

Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have an increased risk of infection due to the compromised immune function associated with the disease.

SCD can lead to functional asplenia, making individuals more susceptible to infections, particularly those caused by encapsulated bacteria.

Choice B rationale:

Hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and ischemia (reduced blood flow) are common complications of SCD.

The sickle-shaped red blood cells can obstruct blood vessels, leading to reduced oxygen delivery to tissues (hypoxia) and tissue damage due to impaired blood flow (ischemia)

Choice C rationale:

Blood clot formation is a known complication of SCD.

The altered shape of sickle cells can lead to the blockage of blood vessels, causing painful vaso-occlusive crises and increasing the risk of clot formation.

Choice D rationale:

This choice is incorrect.

Reduced risk of stroke is not associated with SCD.

In fact, individuals with SCD may have an increased risk of stroke due to the potential for vasculopathy and clot formation.

Choice E rationale:

Reduced adhesion of red blood cells (RBCs) to the endothelium is not a typical feature of SCD.

In fact, the adhesion of sickle cells to the endothelium is one of the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to vaso-occlusive events in SCD.