Diverticulitis
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
GI / Liver / Pancreasmedium priorityneeds review
Diverticulitis
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Inflamed or infected diverticula in the colon.
- Weak bowel wall pockets become inflamed, causing pain and infection risk.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Antibiotics by class | Used for selected infectious/inflammatory cases. |
Nursing actions
- Assess left lower quadrant pain, fever, stool changes, and peritoneal signs.
- Teach acute versus prevention diet instructions as prescribed.
- Escalate rigid abdomen or worsening pain.
Complications
- Perforation
- Abscess
- Peritonitis
- Bleeding
NCLEX cues
- LLQ pain with fever.
- Peritonitis signs are emergency.
Memory hooks
- Diverticula pockets can inflame and leak.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Trend assessment findings and ordered diagnostics; verify exact values with school source material.
Review notes
- Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.