For nursing students, understanding gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is vital as it is a common gastrointestinal disorder that can significantly impact a patient's quality of life. GERD is characterized by the backward movement of gastric contents into the esophagus, often due to various factors. The causes of GERD include a relaxed or incompetent lower esophageal sphincter, pyloric stenosis, increased gastric volume, and motility disorders. To diagnose GERD, healthcare providers may perform a pH test to measure acid regurgitation and employ esophagoscopy to rule out malignancy, ensuring an accurate assessment of the condition.
Assessing and managing GERD is crucial for nursing students. Key assessment points include recognizing symptoms such as heartburn, which tends to worsen when patients bend over, strain, or lie down, and differentiating it from cardiac chest pain. Other symptoms to be aware of include regurgitation, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and dyspepsia (discomfort in the upper abdomen). To provide effective care, nursing students must be attentive to patient comfort, including elevating the head of the bed while sleeping and advising patients to avoid eating within two hours of bedtime to minimize symptoms. Nutrition plays a vital role in GERD management; patients should be educated to avoid foods that reduce lower esophageal sphincter tone, such as peppermint, chocolate, carbonated beverages, and fatty foods. Instead, a low-fat, high-fiber diet is recommended. Patient education is key in GERD management, emphasizing adherence to dietary instructions and the proper use of medications, including antacids, H2 receptor antagonists like famotidine, and proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, to control symptoms effectively and improve the patient's overall well-being.