©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Lewis Medical Surgical Nursing Chap 69: Arthritis
and Connective Tissue Disorders Exam Questions and
Answers
Which finding would the nurse expect when assessing a patient who has osteoarthritis (OA) of the
knee?
a. Presence of Heberden's nodules
b. Discomfort with joint movement
c. Redness and swelling of the knee joint
d. Stiffness that increases with movement - Ans:✔✔-ANS: B Initial symptoms of OA include pain with
joint movement. Heberden's nodules occur on the fingers. Redness of the joint is associated with
inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis. Stiffness in OA is worse right after the patient rests
and decreases with joint movement.
The nurse is assessing a patient with osteoarthritis who uses naproxen (Naprosyn) for pain management.
Which assessment finding would the nurse recognize as likely to require a change in medication?
a. The patient has gained 3 pounds.
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b. The patient has dark-colored stools.
c. The patient's pain affects multiple joints.
d. The patient uses capsaicin cream (Zostrix). - Ans:✔✔-ANS: B Dark-colored stools may indicate the
patient is experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding caused by the naproxen. The patient's ongoing pain and
weight gain will also be reported and may indicate a need for a different treatment and/or counseling
about avoiding weight gain, but these are not as large a concern as the possibility of gastrointestinal
bleeding. Capsaicin cream is often used along with oral medications.
The nurse teaches a patient with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip about how to manage the OA. Which
patient statement a need for additional teaching?
a. ―A shower in the morning will help relieve stiffness.‖
b. ―I can exercise every day to help maintain joint mobility.‖
c. ―I will take 1 gram of acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 4 hours.‖
d. ―I can use a cane to decrease the pressure and pain in my hip joint.‖ - Ans:✔✔-ANS: C No more than
4 g of acetaminophen (1 g every 6 hours) should be taken daily to decrease the risk for liver damage.
Regular exercise, moist heat, and supportive equipment are recommended for OA management.
The nurse would anticipate the need to teach a patient who has osteoarthritis (OA) about which
medication?
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, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
a. Prednisone
b. Adalimumab (Humira)
c. Capsaicin cream (Zostrix)
d. Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) - Ans:✔✔-ANS: C Capsaicin cream blocks the transmission of pain impulses
and is helpful for some patients in treating OA. The other medications would be used for patients with
rheumatoid arthritis.
A patient being seen in the clinic has rheumatoid nodules on the elbows. Which action would the nurse
take?
a. Draw blood for rheumatoid factor analysis.
b. Teach the patient about injections for the nodules.
c. Assess the nodules for skin breakdown or infection.
d. Discuss the need for surgical removal of the nodules. - Ans:✔✔-ANS: C Rheumatoid nodules can break
down or become infected. They are not associated with changes in rheumatoid factor, and injection is
not needed. Rheumatoid nodules are usually not removed surgically because of a high probability of
recurrence.
Which action would the nurse include in the plan of care for a patient with a new diagnosis of
rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?
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FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Lewis Medical Surgical Nursing Chap 69: Arthritis
and Connective Tissue Disorders Exam Questions and
Answers
Which finding would the nurse expect when assessing a patient who has osteoarthritis (OA) of the
knee?
a. Presence of Heberden's nodules
b. Discomfort with joint movement
c. Redness and swelling of the knee joint
d. Stiffness that increases with movement - Ans:✔✔-ANS: B Initial symptoms of OA include pain with
joint movement. Heberden's nodules occur on the fingers. Redness of the joint is associated with
inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis. Stiffness in OA is worse right after the patient rests
and decreases with joint movement.
The nurse is assessing a patient with osteoarthritis who uses naproxen (Naprosyn) for pain management.
Which assessment finding would the nurse recognize as likely to require a change in medication?
a. The patient has gained 3 pounds.
Page 1/26
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
b. The patient has dark-colored stools.
c. The patient's pain affects multiple joints.
d. The patient uses capsaicin cream (Zostrix). - Ans:✔✔-ANS: B Dark-colored stools may indicate the
patient is experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding caused by the naproxen. The patient's ongoing pain and
weight gain will also be reported and may indicate a need for a different treatment and/or counseling
about avoiding weight gain, but these are not as large a concern as the possibility of gastrointestinal
bleeding. Capsaicin cream is often used along with oral medications.
The nurse teaches a patient with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip about how to manage the OA. Which
patient statement a need for additional teaching?
a. ―A shower in the morning will help relieve stiffness.‖
b. ―I can exercise every day to help maintain joint mobility.‖
c. ―I will take 1 gram of acetaminophen (Tylenol) every 4 hours.‖
d. ―I can use a cane to decrease the pressure and pain in my hip joint.‖ - Ans:✔✔-ANS: C No more than
4 g of acetaminophen (1 g every 6 hours) should be taken daily to decrease the risk for liver damage.
Regular exercise, moist heat, and supportive equipment are recommended for OA management.
The nurse would anticipate the need to teach a patient who has osteoarthritis (OA) about which
medication?
Page 2/26
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
a. Prednisone
b. Adalimumab (Humira)
c. Capsaicin cream (Zostrix)
d. Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) - Ans:✔✔-ANS: C Capsaicin cream blocks the transmission of pain impulses
and is helpful for some patients in treating OA. The other medications would be used for patients with
rheumatoid arthritis.
A patient being seen in the clinic has rheumatoid nodules on the elbows. Which action would the nurse
take?
a. Draw blood for rheumatoid factor analysis.
b. Teach the patient about injections for the nodules.
c. Assess the nodules for skin breakdown or infection.
d. Discuss the need for surgical removal of the nodules. - Ans:✔✔-ANS: C Rheumatoid nodules can break
down or become infected. They are not associated with changes in rheumatoid factor, and injection is
not needed. Rheumatoid nodules are usually not removed surgically because of a high probability of
recurrence.
Which action would the nurse include in the plan of care for a patient with a new diagnosis of
rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?
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