Ulcerative Colitis — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
Colon only, bloody diarrhea
👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team
🕐 Updated 2026-07-11
🏷️ Physiological Adaptation
🔖 Free to read, print, and share
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Ulcerative Colitis on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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- colon + rectum ONLY, continuous
- mucosa/submucosa only (not deep)
- starts rectum, moves up
- LLQ pain, BLOODY diarrhea
- 10-20 stools/day, tenesmus
- wt loss, anemia, dehydration
- toxic megacolon = emergency
- distended abd, fever, ↓BP
- ↑colon cancer risk
- aminosalicylates, steroids, biologics
- colectomy = CURE
- low-residue diet during flare
✨Quick Tip
Inflammation is continuous and confined to the mucosa/submucosa of the colon and rectum.
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