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Sickle cell disease

Veronica Nicky Thomas Senior Research Fellow, Department of Nursing Studies, King’s College, London University

Neill Westerdale Sickle Cell Nurse Practitioner, Department of Haematology, St Thomas’ Hospital, London

This article reviews the clinical presentation of patients with sickle cell disease and highlights the nurse’s role in managing their pain and psychological needs It relates to UKCC Professional Development categories: Care enhancement and Patient, family, client and colleague support

Alms and intended learning outcomes

The aim of this article is to educate nurses on the physiological, clinical and psychological aspects of sickle cell disease (SCD). After reading this article the reader should be able to:

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Understand the inheritance of the disease and those whom it affects

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Be able to differentiate between sickle cell trait and sickle disease

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Understand the major complications of SCD

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Understand the principles of clinical management

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Identify the factors that precipitate a crisis

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Fully understand the nature of the painful crises and the basic principles of management

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Understand the psychosocial implications.

Nursing Standard. 11, 25, 40-47. doi: 10.7748/ns.11.25.40.s55

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12 March 1997 / Vol 11 issue 25

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DIGITAL EDITION