Ulcerative Colitis

In this lesson, we are going to look at ulcerative colitis and the causes and risk factors for developing this inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal system.   We will go over common signs and symptoms, testing used to confirm its diagnosis, and medical and surgical treatment options. As always, we will go over priority nursing interventions for the disorder and then we will expand on important client education topics to support the management of symptoms of this chronic gastrointestinal disease.

Learning Objectives:

Upon the completion of this course, learners will be able to:

1. Define ulcerative colitis
2. Summarize signs and symptoms of ulcerative colitis
3. Differentiate between signs and symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
4. List medications used to manage ulcerative colitis
5. Determine complications of ulcerative colitis