Osteoarthritis vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis NCLEX Questions

This is a quiz that contains NCLEX review questions for osteoarthritis vs. rheumatoid arthritis. As a nurse providing care to a patient with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, it is important to know the signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, nursing management, patient education, and treatment for these conditions.

In the previous NCLEX review series, I explained about other musculoskeletal disorders you may be asked about on the NCLEX exam, so be sure to check out those reviews and quizzes as well.

Don’t forget to watch the osteoarthritis vs. rheumatoid arthritis lecture before taking this quiz.

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NCLEX Practice Questions on Osteoarthritis vs. Rheumatoid Arthritis

1. Your patient has arthritis that affects the weight-bearing joints such as the hands, knees, hips, and spine. This type of arthritis is most likely:

A. Rheumatoid arthritis

B. Osteoarthritis

The answer is B. Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis that causes deterioration of the articular hyaline cartilage of the bones. It affects the weight-bearing joints. This can include the hands, knees, hips, and spine because these joints experience a lot of stress.

2. Select all the risk factors for developing osteoarthritis:

A. Malnutrition

B. Obesity

C. Manual labor jobs

D. Premature birth

E. Older age

F. Diabetes

The answers are B, C, and E. These are risk factors for developing OA. In addition, repeated joint injuries and genetics can play a role in developing OA.

3. ____________ affects the joints in a symmetrical fashion.

A. Osteoarthritis

B. Rheumatoid arthritis

The answer is B. RA affects the joints in a symmetrical fashion. It is UNsymmetrical in OA. RA most commonly affects the fingers and wrist but can also affect the neck, shoulders, elbows, ankles, knee, and feet.

4. Which patient below is presenting with signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis? Select all that apply:

A. A 35 year old patient who has severe morning stiffness for 45 minutes.

B. A 45 year old male with crepitus in the right knee.

C. A 30 year old female with warm, red, soft joints on the hands and wrist.

D. A 40 year old male whose x-ray imaging results showed osteophytes formation and decreased joint space in the left knee.

The answer is A and C. These are common findings in RA. However, options B and D are found in OA.

5. You’re explaining to a group of outpatients about the signs and symptoms that may present with osteoarthritis. Select all the signs and symptoms that may present with this condition:

A. Herberden’s Node

B. Morning stiffness for less than 30 minutes

C. Soft, tender, warm joints

D. Fever

E. Anemia

F. Hard and bony joints

G. Crepitus

H. Bouchard’s Node

The answers are A, B, F, G, and H. These are common findings found in osteoarthritis. Options C, D, and E are found in rheumatoid arthritis.

6. ________________ is a form of arthritis that is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation within the joints, specifically the synovium.

A. Rheumatoid arthritis

B. Osteoarthritis

The answer is A. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation of the synovium. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that causes deterioration of the articular hyaline cartilage of the bone.

7. Which statement is FALSE concerning rheumatoid arthritis?

A. Rheumatoid arthritis most commonly affects the fingers and wrist.

B. Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis in that it doesn’t affect other systems of the body.

C. Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age (20-60 year old most commonly).

D. Ankylosis can occur in severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis.

The answer is B. This statement is false. It should say that, “Rheumatoid arthritis is different from osteoarthritis in that it DOES (not doesn’t) affect other systems of the body. RA is systemic, while OA only affects the joints. This is why a fever and anemia can present in RA.

8. You are assessing the diagnostic testing results for a patient that has rheumatoid arthritis. What result is NOT an indicator of this disease?

A. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation

B. X-ray imaging showing osteophyte formation

C. Positive c-reactive protein

D. Positive rheumatoid factor

The answer is B. This is found in osteoarthritis NOT rheumatoid arthritis. Osteophytes (bones spurs) are only found in OA.

9. During a head-to-toe assessment of a patient with arthritis, you note bony outgrowths on the proximal interphalangeal joint. These outgrowths are known as __________ and occur in ______________.

A. Heberden’s Node, osteoarthritis

B. Bouchard’s Node, rheumatoid arthritis

C. Heberden’s Node, rheumatoid arthritis

D. Bouchard’s Node, osteoarthritis

The answer is D. Bouchard’s Node are bony outgrowths on  the proximal interphalangeal joint (middle joint of the finger and occur in osteoarthritis). Heberden’s Node occur on the distal interphalangeal joint (finger joint closet to the fingernail).

10. A patient is newly diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Which medication below is NOT ordered to treat this condition?

A. NSAIDs

B. Intra-articular corticosteroids

C. DMARDs

D. Glucosamine

The answer is C. DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) are ordered in rheumatoid arthritis NOT osteoarthritis. These drugs suppress the immune system from attacking the joint along with helping slow down the destruction of the disease on the joints and bones. All the other options are drugs that can be prescribed in OA.

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