According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017), approximately 100,000 Americans have sickle cell disease. Red blood cells that contain sickle hemoglobin are inflexible. This results in the cells adhering to blood vessel walls which slows or stops blood flow. This diminished or absent flow limits the amount of oxygen reaching cells and leads to attacks of sudden pain or crisis. Many clients with sickle cell disease also experience chronic pain. Hulihan, M., Hassell, K., Raphael, J., Smith-Whitely, K., & Thorpe, P. (2017, November 24). CDC Grand Rounds: Improving the lives of persons with sickle cell disease. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 66 (46), 1269-1271. Initial Discussion Post: What are some of the obstacles the RN may encounter when trying to manage the acute and chronic pain associated with sickle-cell disease? Identify an intervention that can be implemented to overcome one of these obstacles.
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