The patient is a 22-year-old who has recently been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC). In the ED, she tells the nurse that she has been having 6 to 8 bloody stools daily. Upon assessment, the nurse finds that her heart rate is 118/min, and she has abdominal pain upon palpation.
1. Explain how the severity of the patient's ulcerative colitis categorized.
2. Within the plan of care, you discuss medications and foods to avoid such as?
3. What laboratory testing would you anticipate being ordered and evaluated for this patient?