School Nurses on the Front Lines of Medicine: An Adolescent Female Student with Severe Abdominal Pain.

Abdominal pain is a common chief complaint encountered by school nurses. This article explains the etiology of abdominal pain in children and adolescents, describes the office assessment, and delineates life-threatening conditions associated with severe abdominal pain that may prompt the school nurse to transfer the student to a local emergency department.

Ovarian torsion in a 23-year-old female with pelvic pain.

Ovarian torsion is infrequently seen in the emergency department, however, a delay in diagnosis and treatment can lead to necrosis and loss of the ovary (E. D. Shraga & M. Blanda, 2008). A patient with pelvic pain diagnosed with ovarian torsion is presented in this article. The diagnosis and treatment of ovarian torsion is discussed to help the advanced practice nurse gain a better understanding of this frequently missed problem.

Surgical considerations in early pregnancy: ectopic pregnancy and ovarian torsion.

Ectopic pregnancy and ovarian torsion are 2 of the most common causes of acute abdominal pain in early pregnancy. The following article will discuss the physiology and pathophysiology, evaluation, diagnosis, clinical management options, and nursing considerations for ovarian torsion and ectopic pregnancy. Both conditions require timely diagnosis to prevent mortality and minimize morbidity, and both may require surgical management.