Module 10 Mini Case Studies – STIs
Purpose
To treat clients with STIs with a nonjudgmental attitude within the scope of practice of the LPN while functioning on a team of professionals.
Competency
Identify nursing interventions for clients with disorders of the reproductive system.
Instructions
Read the case studies below and answer the questions. Make sure you cite any sources using APA format.
Scenario # 1
You are working in a community health clinic on a team that has an LPN, RN, and nurse practitioner. Your first client of the day is a tearful young woman who states that she has had a painful rash to her genital area for the past couple of days. She came to the clinic today because the rash is getting progressively worse. Her vital signs are: 100.5 (PO), 114, 28, 145/88 Pain: 9 on a 1-10 scale. The client shares with you that her boyfriend has herpes. They never have sex when he is having a flare-up, so she is not sure how she could have gotten it from him.
Question # 1:
What should be the first priority for this client? Explain your answer. (5-10 sentences)
Question #2:
The RN provides teaching to the client, but the client has some follow-up questions. As the LPN you reinforce the teaching about how herpes is spread. What factual information should the nurse provide about the spread of this disease between flare-ups?
(2-3 sentences)
Question #1: The first priority for this client should be to address her pain and discomfort caused by the genital rash. Given her symptoms, it’s crucial to provide immediate relief to alleviate her suffering. Additionally, assessing the severity of the rash and its potential complications, such as secondary infection, is vital for determining the appropriate course of action. The client’s elevated temperature also suggests a possible systemic response, indicating the need for further assessment to rule out any complications or concurrent infections. Promptly addressing the client’s pain and conducting a thorough assessment will lay the foundation for effective management and treatment of her condition.
Question #2: The nurse should provide factual information about how herpes can be spread even when the partner is not experiencing a flare-up. It’s essential to emphasize that herpes can be transmitted through asymptomatic shedding, where the virus is present on the skin without causing visible symptoms. Therefore, even when the partner appears to be symptom-free, there is still a risk of transmitting the virus. This underscores the importance of practicing safe sex measures consistently, such as using condoms, to reduce the risk of transmission between partners.