When we think of diseases, we typically expect to see evidence and symptoms, we expect to see a person who looks sick. When it comes to people with lupus, they don't always look sick or have anything wrong with them. This may lead others, such as family members, to not believe that they actually have an illness. This may increase complications for managing self-care and adequate family support. When it comes to nursing care, the nurse has a vital role, especially when it comes to patient and family education. I will talk more about what lupus is, how it is treated, who diagnoses it, and what the nurse's role is in care. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Lupus is an autoimmune disease and is most common in women between the ages of 20 and 40. According to Goff & Vanderbeck (2016), “women of color are affected much more often than Euro-Americans.” The Lupus Foundation of America stated that “the immune system cannot distinguish between foreign invaders and healthy body tissues. As a result, it creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue.” Two of the main types are systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). DLE affects only the skin. According to Gaffar Sarwar Zaman (2019), SLE is an autoimmune disease that attacks the tissues of single or multiple parts of the healthy body. There may be multiple signs of affected organs, and the parts of the body that may be affected are the joints, brain, skin, and other parts of the body. Subcutaneous lupus, also known as butterfly rash, is often present in SLE. It comes in two types. One, it is caused by a sensitivity to sunlight and is a rash of red-colored pimples on the skin. The second begins as flat lesions and becomes larger as they grow outward, often seen in DLE (Zaman, 2016). Rena Goldman illustrated (2017), many people who have lupus also have Sjogren's disease, which causes the eyes and mouth to be very dry and can lead to problems such as dysphagia and dental decay. Lupus can also affect the pancreas, either through inflammation or through the medications needed to treat the disease. According to Goldman (2017), SLE patients have an increased risk of heart disease. Decreased oxygen can cause a lupus patient to have memory problems or, in less likely cases, hallucinations. Arthritis can also occur due to inflammation caused by lupus. Lupus nephritis is the type of lupus that affects the kidneys. When the patient is discovered to have lupus, it is usually the primary care doctor. That's when the patient is referred to a specialist. Typically, a rheumatologist who specializes in bone and joint medicine is the specialist who treats a patient with lupus. When the disease affects other body systems, the patient can also consult a doctor who specializes in the affected body system. These specialists may include cardiologists, endocrinologists, dermatologists, nephrologists, neurologists, and/or pulmonologists. It is a complicated disease and can be a complicated treatment. According to Goff & Vanderbeck (2016), when a patient is in remission, they appear healthy, but during a flare-up the patient may become seriously ill and require critical care. Generally, the patient is able to manage the disease at home, hospitalization is generally not necessary unless a severe flare-up occurs. The role of the nurse in the care of these patients is to evaluate their disease,monitor vital signs and blood tests, manage medications, and provide information about the disease, the effects of medications, and treatment management. Nursing interventions would use dependent and independent interventions. Dependent interventions would include administration of medications. That medication might include topical ointments like hydroxychloroquine, which works by decreasing the absorption of ultraviolet (UV) light, which helps prevent skin breakdown. Chronic steroid therapy may be prescribed to treat systemic disease processes. In case of renal involvement, immunosuppressive drugs may also be prescribed. Even when symptoms of the disease subside, these medications would be continued to help prevent future flare-ups. It would be important for the nurse to educate the patient about the effects of any medications administered. Independent interventions for the nurse would provide the patient with information on the best ways to avoid direct contact with sunlight. The nurse should encourage the use of sunscreen, hats, long sleeves, and other items that may block the sun's UV light. Another independent intervention that could benefit the patient is for the nurse to encourage the patient to maintain activity regulated to normal limits during mild symptoms or during remission (Lupus Erythematosus, 2019). Fatigue can lead to flare-ups, so it is important for the nurse and patient to explore ways the patient can maintain activity while preventing exhaustion. The nurse should include teaching the patient and family how to recognize the signs and symptoms of the disease. disease and how to ensure they can recognize an impending flare-up. These symptoms might include inflamed red skin (butterfly rash), joint inflammation, fatigue, generalized weakness, myositis, and fever (Goff & Vanderbeck, 2016). Fever is a classic indicator of a flare-up. If the patient is taking immunosuppressant medications for renal involvement, it would be very important for the nurse to educate the patient and family about the importance of avoiding large crowds and sick people if possible. Their immunity is decreased and would further increase susceptibility to diseases. The patient and family should also be educated on the importance of good hand hygiene. Proper patient care is to use a mild soap, dry your hands completely, and apply lotion. Alopecia is also common in this disease, so it is important for the patient to use gentle shampoos containing proteins, and it is best to avoid harsh chemical treatments such as hair dyes and perms. A final lesson that is equally important for the patient. patient and family is the fact that lupus can be very stressful for the patient because when they are in remission they appear healthy. Flare-ups can often occur unpredictably, which takes away the feeling of control from the person suffering from the disease. It is important for the nurse to provide information about different coping strategies and community support systems. The Lupus Foundation is a resource specifically for people with lupus and offers a lot of information about this disease process. If the person is concerned about not being able to attend support groups due to their finances, the nurse can reassure them that many of these support groups are offered free of charge. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, lupus is an autoimmune disease that can, and often does, affect multiple body systems..