Kristen Bortke, Shay Cook, Brandi Davidson, Shawna Dietz, Lenae Schneider, & Jordan Taghon

Nursing Interventions – Focus on delaying the progression of the disease, depends on the type of disease the patient has.

Teaching / Education about prognosis and possible signs and symptoms of scleroderma.

 

Promoting activities of daily living along with other range of motion activities to promote muscle strength and activity tolerance.

 

Pain management

 

Promoting chest physiotherapy such as deep breathing, cough, incentive spirometry to help promote gas exchange.

 

Manage symptoms with medications, such as antihypertensives, PPIs, and steroids.

 

Increase meals throughout the day while being smaller but more calorie-dense as this will prevent risk for aspiration with esophageal dysfunction.

 

Preventing injury to hands and extremities by wearing gloves, which will also aid in the process of reducing cold/heat exposure.

 

 

Medical – Focus on helping the symptoms as there is no cure, usually through medications.

 

Pain medications – To help make the patient more comfortable as pain and discomfort are common symptoms of scleroderma

 

Antihypertensives / Vasodilators -> Help with Raynaud’s syndrome, keep vessels open and help allow proper blood flow.

 

Proton-Pump Inhibitors / Peristalsis promoters -> Reduce the risk of ulcers, paralytic ileus, and GERD.

 

Anti-Inflammatories / Steroids -> Decrease the inflammation process to help reduce swelling and pain.