Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 63%
Practice
The nurse is determining the type of arthritis a patient is experiencing. Which assessment finding would be present if the patient has rheumatoid arthritis?
Correct answer
B
Rationale
In rheumatoid arthritis, the health history often includes systemic symptoms such as weight loss and fever. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects multiple joints symmetrically. Unlike osteoarthritis where joint stiffness is often relieved by activity, stiffness in rheumatoid arthritis is typically worse in the morning and after inactivity. In rheumatoid arthritis, joint deformities can occur in various joints, not just limited to the hands. Heberden's nodes are characteristic of osteoarthritis, not rheumatoid arthritis.