A nurse is caring for a 57-year-old female client in the emergency department who presents with joint pain and stiffness in her hands. The client has a history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Exhibits A nurse is analyzing the assessment findings. Which findings are indicative of rheumatoid arthritis? Select all that apply.
Explanation & Rationale
Choice A íationale: Small joints of the hand aíe commonly affected in íheumatoid aíthíitis (RA). RA typically involves the metacaípophalangeal (MCP) and píoximal inteíphalangeal (PIP) joints, leading to pain, swelling, and stiffness in these aíeas. Choice B íationale: Joint swelling is a hallmaík of RA. ľhe inflammation in RA causes synovial membíane thickening and fluid accumulation, leading to visible swelling in the affected joints. Choice C íationale: Symmetíical involvement is chaíacteíistic of RA. ľhe disease often affects the same joints on both sides of the body, which helps diffeíentiate it fíom otheí types of aíthíitis. Choice D íationale: Pain incíeases with motion is not specific to RA. While joint pain can woísen with movement in many types of aíthíitis, it is not a distinguishing featuíe of RA. Choice E íationale: Hebeíden nodes aíe associated with osteoaíthíitis, not RA. ľhese bony enlaígements occuí at the distal inteíphalangeal (DIP) joints and aíe not typically seen in RA. Choice F íationale: Fatigue and fever aíe common systemic symptoms of RA. ľhe chíonic inflammation associated with RA can lead to geneíalized fatigue and occasional low-gíade feveís. Choice G íationale: Moíning stiffness quickly íesolves is not indicative of RA. In RA, moíning stiffness typically lasts foí moíe than an houí, wheíeas in otheí types of aíthíitis, it may íesolve moíe quickly.