A 40-year-old woman was diagnosed with Raynaud's phenomenon several years earlier and has sought care because of a progressive worsening of her symptoms
The patient also states that many of her skin surfaces are "stiff, like the skin is being stretched from all directions." The nurse should recognize the need for medical referral for the assessment of what health problem?
A) Giant cell arteritis (GCA)
B) Fibromyalgia (FM)
C) Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
D) Scleroderma
Ans: D
Feedback:
Scleroderma starts insidiously with Raynaud's phenomenon and swelling in the hands. Later, the skin and the subcutaneous tissues become increasingly hard and rigid and cannot be pinched up from the underlying structures. This progression of symptoms is inconsistent with GCA, FM, or RA.
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