Question

A nurse is planning care for a client who has rheumatoid arthritis and has moderate to severe pain in multiple joints. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

a. Apply cold packs to affected joints
b. Encourage regular exercise
c. Administer opioid analgesics as needed
d. Limit fluid intake to reduce joint swelling

Answer 1

For a client with rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain, applying cold packs, encouraging regular exercise post-inflammation, and administering appropriate pain medication are suitable nursing actions. Limiting fluid intake is not a recommended action.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse planning care for a client with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who has moderate to severe pain should consider several treatment options. The correct actions would involve:

• Applying cold packs to affected joints to help reduce inflammation and swelling.
• Encouraging regular exercise once inflammation has decreased to strengthen the muscles around the joint and maintain flexibility.
• Administering pain medication, which may include anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, topical pain relievers, corticosteroid injections, and in cases where these are inadequate, opioid analgesics as needed.

Limited fluid intake is not an appropriate action as it does not effectively reduce joint swelling and could lead to dehydration.