title: Caring for the orthopaedic patient with sickle cell disease.
abstract: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited, chronic, painful condition seen primarily in blacks and populations from the Mediterranean and Caribbean areas. The crescent or sickle shaped red blood cells have a shorter lifespan causing severe anemia; they are sticky and easily clump together causing intravascular occlusions which eventually damage vital organs. Providing nursing care for patients with sickle cell disease can be very challenging because of the chronic nature of the illness. Understanding the disease phenomena can facilitate nursing assessments and help nurses individualize care for these clients.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Doheny
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sedlak
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Broome
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D016530:Orthopedic Nursing; D012146:Rest; D012649:Self Concept; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D012945:Social Values; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control