A patient with arthritis has difficulty participating is sex because of joint pain and stiffness. What action by the nurse is best?
a. Suggest a warm shower prior to sexual activity.
b. Ask the patient if he or she needs more pain medication.
c. Explore other ways of expressing sexual-ity.
d. Refer the patient to a rheumatologist.
A
A warm shower can reduce pain and stiffness, making sexual activity more enjoyable. The patient may need more pain medication, but the sedating effects may be counterproductive. The patient does not indicate he or she cannot or does not want to participate in sex, so suggesting other means of expression is not really addressing the core issue. Referral is possible, but the nurse needs to provide some intervention first.
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