Final answer:
In the treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis, a nurse could anticipate the use of medications such as Etanercept-tumor necrosis factor, Methotrexate, and Gold therapy to reduce inflammation and prevent joint damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease. In the treatment of severe RA, the nurse could anticipate the use of several medications. These include:
- Etanercept-tumor necrosis factor: This medication blocks the action of tumor necrosis factor, a substance involved in inflammation.
- Methotrexate: This is a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) that helps reduce inflammation and slow the progression of RA.
- Gold therapy: Gold compounds can be injected to help reduce inflammation and prevent joint damage.