prepU ch 38 Assessment and Management of Patients With Rheumatic Disorders

Which condition is the leading cause of disability and pain in the elderly?

Osteoarthritis

Nursing care for the client with fibromyalgia should be guided by the assumption that patients with fibromyalgia

may feel as if their symptoms are not taken seriously.

Which joint is most commonly affected in gout?

metatarsophalangeal

The nurse is teaching a client with osteoarthritis about the disease. What is the most important client focus for disease management?

strategies for remaining active

The nurse teaches the client that osteoarthritis

the most common and frequently disabling of joint disorders.

A client is experiencing symptoms that are suspected to be related to systemic lupus erythematosus. What cutaneous symptom occurs in about 50% of clients affected by this disease?

Butterfly-shaped rash on the face over the bridge of the nose and cheeks

The nurse is reviewing the diagnostic test findings of a client with rheumatoid arthritis. What would the nurse expect to find?

Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Which is an appropriate nursing intervention in the care of the client with osteoarthritis?

Encourage weight loss and an increase in aerobic activity

The nurse is preparing a teaching tool about the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Which immunoregulatory disturbance factors will the nurse include in this tool? Select all that apply.

Genetic Hormonal Immunological Environmental

Which assessment suggests to the nurse that a client with systemic lupus erythematous is having renal involvement?

HTN

The nurse is assessing a client with decreased dexterity of the hands related to rheumatoid arthritis. The nurse knows that which process causes joint deformities?

Methotrexate

What intervention is a priority for a client diagnosed with osteoarthritis?

Physical therapy and exercise

A client is diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take in order to evaluate the client's stage of disease?

Review the client's medical record.

Which connective tissue disorder is characterized by insoluble collagen being formed and accumulating excessively in the tissues?

Scleroderma

Nursing assessment findings reveal joint swelling and tenderness and a butterfly rash on the face. The nurse suspects which of the following?

Systemic lupus erythematous

Which term indicates an accumulation of crystalline depositions in articular surfaces, bones, soft tissue, and cartilage?

Tophi

A client is recovering from an attack of gout. What will the nurse include in the client teaching?

Weight loss will reduce uric acid levels and reduce stress on joints.

A client with a history of peptic ulcer disease is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. What medication will the nurse anticipate will be prescribed to produce an anti-inflammatory effect and protect the stomach lining?

celecoxib

A nurse is managing the care of a client with osteoarthritis. What is the appropriate treatment strategy the nurse will teach the about for osteoarthritis?

administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

The nurse is reviewing the medication administration record of the client. Which medication would lead the nurse to suspect that the client is suffering from an acute attack of gout?

colchicine

The nurse is assessing a client with a history of ankylosing spondylitis. What will the nurse most commonly assess?

low back pain

The nurse is gathering a health history for a client with osteoarthritis. What clinical manifestation will the nurse expect to find?

early morning stiffness

A client is being treated for hyperuricemia. Part of the treatment strategy is for the client to avoid contributing factors whenever possible. Which activities might bring on an acute attack?

eating organ meats and sardines

The nurse is discussing life management with the client with rheumatoid arthritis in a health clinic. What assessment finding indicates the client is having difficulty implementing self-care?

increased fatigue

A client asks the nurse how to identify rheumatoid nodules with rheumatoid arthritis. What characteristic will the nurse include?

located over bony prominence

A client with a history of gout experiences an attack every 2 to 3 months despite losing weight and stopping all alcohol intake. Which question will the nurse ask when assessing this client?

"Are you taking the medication as prescribed?"

A client seeks medical attention for the development of red scaly lesions over the surface of both knees. Which question will the nurse ask to determine if the client is experiencing polymyositis?

"Have you had a change in the strength of your legs?"

The nurse instructs a client with polymyositis rheumatica (PMR) about prescribed corticosteroids. Which statement regarding corticosteroid is correct?

"I will take the medication until my health care provider tells me to stop."

A nurse is teaching a client about rheumatoid arthritis. Which statement by the client indicates understanding of the disease process?

"It will get better and worse again."

An older adult with rheumatoid arthritis limits going out with others because of the need to use a cane. Which response will the nurse make to this client?

"Look at the cane as maintaining your independence."

A client with a discoid facial rash caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) asks why a urine sample is needed. Which response will the nurse make to the client?

"The lupus can affect your kidney function."

As part of the assessment process for a client suspected of having gout, the nurse evaluated the client's serum uric acid levels. Select the value that is considered above the saturation point for crystal formation.

6.8 mg/dL (0.40 mmol/L)

A patient is hospitalized with a severe case of gout. The patient has gross swelling of the large toe and rates pain a 10 out of 10. With a diagnosis of gout, what should the laboratory results reveal?

Hyperuricemia

A client is being discharged from the hospital after being diagnosed with and treated for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). What would the nurse not say when teaching the client and family information about managing the disease?

If you have problems with a medication, you may stop it until your next physician visit.

A client has a serum study that is positive for the rheumatoid factor. What will the nurse tell the client about the significance of this test result?

It is suggestive of rheumatoid arthritis.

A client has a history of osteoarthritis. Which signs and symptoms should the nurse expect to find on physical assessment?

Joint pain, crepitus, Heberden's nodes

A client with rheumatoid arthritis arrives at the clinic for a checkup. Which statement by the client refers to the most overt clinical manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis?

"My finger joints are oddly shaped."

A client asks the nurse what the difference is between osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Which response is correct?

"OA is a noninflammatory joint disease. RA is characterized by inflamed, swollen joints."

The nurse is teaching a newly diagnosed client about systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). What statement by the client indicates the teaching was successful?

"The belief is that it is an autoimmune disorder with an unknown trigger."

A client suspected of having systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is being scheduled for testing. The client asks which of the tests ordered will determine positivity for the disorder. Which statement by the nurse is most accurate?

"The diagnosis won't be based on the findings of a single test but by combining all data found."

A client is taking ibuprofen for the treatment of osteoarthritis. What education will the nurse give the client about the medication?

Take the medication with food to avoid stomach upset.