During a sickle cell crisis, which symptom should the nurse expect to assess?

During a sickle cell crisis, the most prominent symptom that can be expected is pain. This pain typically arises from the blockage of blood flow due to sickle-shaped red blood cells that clump together and cause occlusion of small blood vessels. This vascular obstruction leads to ischemia and tissue hypoxia, which result in severe pain often referred to as a "sickle cell crisis" or "pain crisis."

Patients may experience pain in various regions of the body, including the chest, abdomen, and joints. The intensity and location of the pain can vary, but it is one of the hallmark symptoms of the crisis. Proper management involves pain relief and supportive care to prevent complications.

While fever may sometimes be present, it is not a defining characteristic of a sickle cell crisis, and it often indicates an infection or inflammation rather than the crisis itself. Heart murmurs are not typically expected during a crisis and may indicate underlying cardiac anomalies or complications. Rashes are also not a common symptom during a sickle cell crisis, although they could occur due to other conditions or complications but are not characteristic of the pain associated with a sickle cell event.