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Nursing 354 Rheumatoid Arthritis Exam
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. Which statement best describes rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?
A. A degenerative disorder caused primarily by cartilage wear
B. An autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects synovial joints
C. An acute bacterial infection of the joints
D. A metabolic disorder caused by uric acid accumulation
Answer: An autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects synovial
joints
Rationale: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease
characterized by inflammation of the synovium, which can progressively
damage cartilage, bone, and other tissues.
2. Which joint pattern is most characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Symmetric involvement of multiple joints
B. Isolated involvement of one large joint
C. Asymmetric involvement of the distal interphalangeal joints only
D. Involvement limited to the spine
Answer: Symmetric involvement of multiple joints
,Rationale: RA commonly produces symmetric inflammatory polyarthritis,
particularly involving the hands, wrists, feet, and other peripheral joints.
3. Which assessment finding is most consistent with rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Brief stiffness lasting less than 10 minutes after waking
B. Joint pain that improves with prolonged inactivity
C. Morning joint stiffness lasting more than 30–60 minutes
D. Painless joint swelling after exercise
Answer: Morning joint stiffness lasting more than 30–60 minutes
Rationale: Prolonged morning stiffness is a classic manifestation of
inflammatory arthritis such as RA.
4. Which laboratory test is commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Rheumatoid factor
B. Serum amylase
C. Troponin I
D. Serum bilirubin
Answer: Rheumatoid factor
Rationale: Rheumatoid factor is an autoantibody frequently present in RA,
although it is not completely specific for the disease.
5. Which antibody is particularly useful in supporting the diagnosis of
rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Antinuclear antibody only
B. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody
C. Anti-mitochondrial antibody
D. Anti-dsDNA antibody
Answer: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody
Rationale: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are highly
specific for RA and may be detectable early in the disease.
, 6. Which joints are commonly affected early in rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints
B. Distal interphalangeal joints exclusively
C. Sacroiliac joints only
D. Temporomandibular joints only
Answer: Metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints
Rationale: RA commonly affects the MCP and PIP joints of the hands, along with
the wrists and other peripheral joints.
7. Which finding helps distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from osteoarthritis?
A. Pain after excessive use
B. Bony enlargement of distal joints
C. Prolonged morning stiffness and systemic inflammation
D. Absence of joint swelling
Answer: Prolonged morning stiffness and systemic inflammation
Rationale: RA is an inflammatory systemic disease, whereas osteoarthritis is
primarily a degenerative joint disorder.
8. A patient with RA reports severe fatigue. How should the nurse interpret
this finding?
A. Fatigue is unrelated to RA
B. Fatigue can be a manifestation of systemic inflammation
C. Fatigue indicates medication overdose in every case
D. Fatigue occurs only with advanced joint deformity
Answer: Fatigue can be a manifestation of systemic inflammation
Rationale: RA can produce systemic symptoms such as fatigue, malaise,
weakness, and low-grade fever because of ongoing inflammatory activity.
9. Which medication class is considered disease-modifying for rheumatoid
arthritis?
, A. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
B. Antacids
C. Antidiarrheals
D. Antihistamines
Answer: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Rationale: DMARDs reduce inflammatory disease activity and help prevent or
slow structural joint damage.
10.Which medication is commonly used as a conventional DMARD for
rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Methotrexate
B. Acetaminophen only
C. Diphenhydramine
D. Omeprazole
Answer: Methotrexate
Rationale: Methotrexate is a commonly used first-line conventional DMARD for
many patients with RA.
11.Which laboratory monitoring is especially important for a patient taking
methotrexate?
A. Complete blood count and liver function tests
B. Serum sodium only
C. Troponin level every week
D. Amylase only
Answer: Complete blood count and liver function tests
Rationale: Methotrexate can cause bone marrow suppression and
hepatotoxicity, making CBC and liver-function monitoring important.
12.Which teaching is appropriate for a patient prescribed methotrexate for RA?
A. Take extra doses whenever joint pain increases
B. Avoid all laboratory monitoring
Nursing 354 Rheumatoid Arthritis Exam
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. Which statement best describes rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?
A. A degenerative disorder caused primarily by cartilage wear
B. An autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects synovial joints
C. An acute bacterial infection of the joints
D. A metabolic disorder caused by uric acid accumulation
Answer: An autoimmune inflammatory disease that primarily affects synovial
joints
Rationale: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease
characterized by inflammation of the synovium, which can progressively
damage cartilage, bone, and other tissues.
2. Which joint pattern is most characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Symmetric involvement of multiple joints
B. Isolated involvement of one large joint
C. Asymmetric involvement of the distal interphalangeal joints only
D. Involvement limited to the spine
Answer: Symmetric involvement of multiple joints
,Rationale: RA commonly produces symmetric inflammatory polyarthritis,
particularly involving the hands, wrists, feet, and other peripheral joints.
3. Which assessment finding is most consistent with rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Brief stiffness lasting less than 10 minutes after waking
B. Joint pain that improves with prolonged inactivity
C. Morning joint stiffness lasting more than 30–60 minutes
D. Painless joint swelling after exercise
Answer: Morning joint stiffness lasting more than 30–60 minutes
Rationale: Prolonged morning stiffness is a classic manifestation of
inflammatory arthritis such as RA.
4. Which laboratory test is commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Rheumatoid factor
B. Serum amylase
C. Troponin I
D. Serum bilirubin
Answer: Rheumatoid factor
Rationale: Rheumatoid factor is an autoantibody frequently present in RA,
although it is not completely specific for the disease.
5. Which antibody is particularly useful in supporting the diagnosis of
rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Antinuclear antibody only
B. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody
C. Anti-mitochondrial antibody
D. Anti-dsDNA antibody
Answer: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody
Rationale: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are highly
specific for RA and may be detectable early in the disease.
, 6. Which joints are commonly affected early in rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints
B. Distal interphalangeal joints exclusively
C. Sacroiliac joints only
D. Temporomandibular joints only
Answer: Metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints
Rationale: RA commonly affects the MCP and PIP joints of the hands, along with
the wrists and other peripheral joints.
7. Which finding helps distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from osteoarthritis?
A. Pain after excessive use
B. Bony enlargement of distal joints
C. Prolonged morning stiffness and systemic inflammation
D. Absence of joint swelling
Answer: Prolonged morning stiffness and systemic inflammation
Rationale: RA is an inflammatory systemic disease, whereas osteoarthritis is
primarily a degenerative joint disorder.
8. A patient with RA reports severe fatigue. How should the nurse interpret
this finding?
A. Fatigue is unrelated to RA
B. Fatigue can be a manifestation of systemic inflammation
C. Fatigue indicates medication overdose in every case
D. Fatigue occurs only with advanced joint deformity
Answer: Fatigue can be a manifestation of systemic inflammation
Rationale: RA can produce systemic symptoms such as fatigue, malaise,
weakness, and low-grade fever because of ongoing inflammatory activity.
9. Which medication class is considered disease-modifying for rheumatoid
arthritis?
, A. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
B. Antacids
C. Antidiarrheals
D. Antihistamines
Answer: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Rationale: DMARDs reduce inflammatory disease activity and help prevent or
slow structural joint damage.
10.Which medication is commonly used as a conventional DMARD for
rheumatoid arthritis?
A. Methotrexate
B. Acetaminophen only
C. Diphenhydramine
D. Omeprazole
Answer: Methotrexate
Rationale: Methotrexate is a commonly used first-line conventional DMARD for
many patients with RA.
11.Which laboratory monitoring is especially important for a patient taking
methotrexate?
A. Complete blood count and liver function tests
B. Serum sodium only
C. Troponin level every week
D. Amylase only
Answer: Complete blood count and liver function tests
Rationale: Methotrexate can cause bone marrow suppression and
hepatotoxicity, making CBC and liver-function monitoring important.
12.Which teaching is appropriate for a patient prescribed methotrexate for RA?
A. Take extra doses whenever joint pain increases
B. Avoid all laboratory monitoring
