Final answer:
The appropriate nursing diagnosis for a client with RA and decreased ROM, pain, and tenderness in the hands is 'Impaired physical mobility related to reduced strength and ROM.' This addresses the limitations on movement caused by RA, where chronic inflammation and immune response lead to joint damage. Therefore, the correct option is c.
Step-by-step explanation:
An appropriate nursing diagnosis for a client with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), most prominent in the hands, experiencing decreased range of motion (ROM), pain, and tenderness, would be: c) Impaired physical mobility related to reduced strength and ROM. This diagnosis directly addresses the client's symptoms and the effect they have on their ability to move. Physical mobility is limited by pain and decreased ROM in the joints, specifically in this case the hands, which are commonly affected by RA. In RA, the joint capsule and synovial membrane become inflamed, and as the disease progresses, the articular cartilage is damaged or destroyed, causing joint deformation, loss of movement, and severe disability.
RA is a chronic autoimmune condition where immune cells mistakenly attack healthy joint tissue, leading to cartilage breakdown, bone erosion, and joint inflammation. Treatments are aimed at symptom management and maintaining joint function. Interventions might include exercise, anti-inflammatory and pain medications, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or surgery depending on severity.