Nursing 354 Osteoarthritis Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. Which description best defines osteoarthritis?
A. An autoimmune disease causing systemic inflammation of multiple organs
B. An infectious disease involving the synovial membrane
C. A degenerative joint disorder involving progressive cartilage loss and
structural changes
D. A metabolic disorder caused by excessive uric acid
Answer: C. A degenerative joint disorder involving progressive cartilage loss and
structural changes
Rationale: Osteoarthritis is primarily characterized by degeneration of articular
cartilage, subchondral bone changes, osteophyte formation, and varying
degrees of synovial inflammation.
2. Which joints are commonly affected by osteoarthritis?
A. Knees, hips, hands, and spine
B. Temporomandibular joints only
C. Shoulders and elbows exclusively
D. Sacroiliac joints only
,Answer: A. Knees, hips, hands, and spine
Rationale: Osteoarthritis commonly affects weight-bearing and frequently used
joints, particularly the knees, hips, hands, and spine.
3. Which symptom is most characteristic of osteoarthritis?
A. Severe systemic fatigue
B. Joint pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest
C. Symmetrical joint swelling with prolonged morning stiffness
D. High fever accompanied by joint pain
Answer: B. Joint pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest
Rationale: Osteoarthritis pain typically increases with joint use and improves
with rest, especially during earlier stages of the disease.
4. A nurse assesses a patient with osteoarthritis who reports morning stiffness.
Which duration is most consistent with osteoarthritis?
A. 2–3 hours
B. 4–5 hours
C. The entire morning
D. Less than 30 minutes
Answer: D. Less than 30 minutes
Rationale: Morning stiffness in osteoarthritis is usually brief, generally lasting
less than 30 minutes, whereas inflammatory arthritis often causes more
prolonged stiffness.
5. Which physical assessment finding is commonly associated with osteoarthritis
of the knee?
,A. Crepitus during joint movement
B. Severe erythema and warmth
C. Generalized muscle rigidity
D. Complete loss of joint sensation
Answer: A. Crepitus during joint movement
Rationale: Crepitus is a grating or crackling sensation that may occur as
damaged joint surfaces move against one another.
6. Which factor increases a person's risk of developing osteoarthritis?
A. Low physical activity during childhood
B. Increasing age
C. Frequent consumption of fruits
D. Adequate hydration
Answer: B. Increasing age
Rationale: Age is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis because cumulative
mechanical stress and age-related changes contribute to joint degeneration.
7. Which additional factor is strongly associated with osteoarthritis of weight-
bearing joints?
A. Low body temperature
B. Excess body weight
C. Mild seasonal allergies
D. Increased water intake
Answer: B. Excess body weight
Rationale: Excess body weight increases mechanical stress on weight-bearing
joints and is associated with increased risk and severity of osteoarthritis.
, 8. Which finding would help distinguish osteoarthritis from rheumatoid
arthritis?
A. Joint pain
B. Joint stiffness
C. Reduced range of motion
D. Pain that generally worsens with activity and has brief morning stiffness
Answer: D. Pain that generally worsens with activity and has brief morning
stiffness
Rationale: Osteoarthritis typically causes activity-related pain and short-
duration morning stiffness, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by
inflammatory symptoms and prolonged morning stiffness.
9. Which type of joint change is commonly seen in osteoarthritis?
A. Osteophyte formation
B. Complete destruction of all skeletal muscle
C. Bacterial invasion of bone
D. Widespread ligament infection
Answer: A. Osteophyte formation
Rationale: Osteophytes, commonly called bone spurs, develop along joint
margins as part of the structural changes associated with osteoarthritis.
10. Which diagnostic study is commonly useful for evaluating structural changes
associated with osteoarthritis?
A. Electrocardiogram
B. Pulmonary function testing
C. Plain radiography
D. Electroencephalography
Answer: C. Plain radiography
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. Which description best defines osteoarthritis?
A. An autoimmune disease causing systemic inflammation of multiple organs
B. An infectious disease involving the synovial membrane
C. A degenerative joint disorder involving progressive cartilage loss and
structural changes
D. A metabolic disorder caused by excessive uric acid
Answer: C. A degenerative joint disorder involving progressive cartilage loss and
structural changes
Rationale: Osteoarthritis is primarily characterized by degeneration of articular
cartilage, subchondral bone changes, osteophyte formation, and varying
degrees of synovial inflammation.
2. Which joints are commonly affected by osteoarthritis?
A. Knees, hips, hands, and spine
B. Temporomandibular joints only
C. Shoulders and elbows exclusively
D. Sacroiliac joints only
,Answer: A. Knees, hips, hands, and spine
Rationale: Osteoarthritis commonly affects weight-bearing and frequently used
joints, particularly the knees, hips, hands, and spine.
3. Which symptom is most characteristic of osteoarthritis?
A. Severe systemic fatigue
B. Joint pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest
C. Symmetrical joint swelling with prolonged morning stiffness
D. High fever accompanied by joint pain
Answer: B. Joint pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest
Rationale: Osteoarthritis pain typically increases with joint use and improves
with rest, especially during earlier stages of the disease.
4. A nurse assesses a patient with osteoarthritis who reports morning stiffness.
Which duration is most consistent with osteoarthritis?
A. 2–3 hours
B. 4–5 hours
C. The entire morning
D. Less than 30 minutes
Answer: D. Less than 30 minutes
Rationale: Morning stiffness in osteoarthritis is usually brief, generally lasting
less than 30 minutes, whereas inflammatory arthritis often causes more
prolonged stiffness.
5. Which physical assessment finding is commonly associated with osteoarthritis
of the knee?
,A. Crepitus during joint movement
B. Severe erythema and warmth
C. Generalized muscle rigidity
D. Complete loss of joint sensation
Answer: A. Crepitus during joint movement
Rationale: Crepitus is a grating or crackling sensation that may occur as
damaged joint surfaces move against one another.
6. Which factor increases a person's risk of developing osteoarthritis?
A. Low physical activity during childhood
B. Increasing age
C. Frequent consumption of fruits
D. Adequate hydration
Answer: B. Increasing age
Rationale: Age is a major risk factor for osteoarthritis because cumulative
mechanical stress and age-related changes contribute to joint degeneration.
7. Which additional factor is strongly associated with osteoarthritis of weight-
bearing joints?
A. Low body temperature
B. Excess body weight
C. Mild seasonal allergies
D. Increased water intake
Answer: B. Excess body weight
Rationale: Excess body weight increases mechanical stress on weight-bearing
joints and is associated with increased risk and severity of osteoarthritis.
, 8. Which finding would help distinguish osteoarthritis from rheumatoid
arthritis?
A. Joint pain
B. Joint stiffness
C. Reduced range of motion
D. Pain that generally worsens with activity and has brief morning stiffness
Answer: D. Pain that generally worsens with activity and has brief morning
stiffness
Rationale: Osteoarthritis typically causes activity-related pain and short-
duration morning stiffness, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by
inflammatory symptoms and prolonged morning stiffness.
9. Which type of joint change is commonly seen in osteoarthritis?
A. Osteophyte formation
B. Complete destruction of all skeletal muscle
C. Bacterial invasion of bone
D. Widespread ligament infection
Answer: A. Osteophyte formation
Rationale: Osteophytes, commonly called bone spurs, develop along joint
margins as part of the structural changes associated with osteoarthritis.
10. Which diagnostic study is commonly useful for evaluating structural changes
associated with osteoarthritis?
A. Electrocardiogram
B. Pulmonary function testing
C. Plain radiography
D. Electroencephalography
Answer: C. Plain radiography
