Nokea
During a routine check-up, the nurse evaluates a client with rheumatoid arthritis. To assess for the most obvious disease manifestations first, the nurse checks for:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When evaluating a client with rheumatoid arthritis, the nurse should check for joint abnormalities first because it is the most obvious manifestation of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis primarily affects the joints, causing inflammation, pain, stiffness, and potentially deformity over time. Assessing for joint abnormalities can provide crucial information about the severity and progression of the disease, guiding further assessment and intervention plans. Muscle weakness, painful subcutaneous nodules, and gait disturbances can also be present in rheumatoid arthritis, but joint abnormalities are the hallmark feature that should be assessed initially.