Osteoarthritis — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
Asymmetric, worse with useAlso known as: wear and tear arthritis · OA · degenerative joint disease · bone-on-bone
Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Osteoarthritis on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
🩺📒 The 1-minute cheat sheet
🩺 Signs
- Asymmetric weight-bearing joints
- Pain worse w/ activity, better rest
- Stiffness < 30 min, crepitus
📌 Nodes
- Heberden (DIP), Bouchard (PIP)
- No systemic signs (vs RA)
🧪 Meds
- Acetaminophen 1st, then NSAIDs
🎓 Teach
- Weight loss ↓ joint stress
- Heat for stiffness, low-impact exercise
- Balance activity w/ rest periods
📚 Osteoarthritis — full study notes
The cheat sheet above is your quick recall card. These notes go deeper — what it is, what to do first, what must be reported, and what to teach.
Key points
Understand these first- Joint pain worsens with activity and weight-bearing and is relieved by rest.
- Morning stiffness is brief, usually lasting less than 30 minutes.
- Joint involvement is typically asymmetric, affecting hips, knees, spine, and hands.
- Heberden's nodes (distal finger joints) and Bouchard's nodes (proximal joints) are characteristic.
- Crepitus, a grating sensation, is felt with joint movement.
- Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, it lacks systemic symptoms such as fever and fatigue.
Nursing priorities
What to do, in order- Encourage weight loss to reduce stress on weight-bearing joints.
- Apply heat to relieve stiffness and promote low-impact exercise like swimming or walking.
- Administer acetaminophen as first-line and NSAIDs as ordered for pain.
- Balance activity with rest and teach joint protection and proper body mechanics.
- Promote use of assistive devices such as canes and supportive footwear.
Red flags — report now
Escalate immediately- Sudden joint swelling, redness, warmth, and fever may indicate infection rather than osteoarthritis.
- Report GI bleeding signs (black stools, abdominal pain) in patients taking long-term NSAIDs.
Labs & values
Numbers to know- ESR: 0 to 20 mm/hr (usually normal, unlike RA)
- Rheumatoid factor: negative (helps distinguish from RA)
Patient teaching
What patients must know- Lose excess weight and perform low-impact exercise to protect and strengthen joints.
- Apply heat for stiffness, take acetaminophen as directed, and take NSAIDs with food.
- Use assistive devices, supportive shoes, and good body mechanics, and rest painful joints.
❓ Osteoarthritis: NCLEX FAQs
What are the priority nursing interventions for Osteoarthritis?
Encourage weight loss to reduce stress on weight-bearing joints. Apply heat to relieve stiffness and promote low-impact exercise like swimming or walking. Administer acetaminophen as first-line and NSAIDs as ordered for pain. Balance activity with rest and teach joint protection and proper body mechanics.
What are the warning signs of Osteoarthritis a nurse must report?
Sudden joint swelling, redness, warmth, and fever may indicate infection rather than osteoarthritis. Report GI bleeding signs (black stools, abdominal pain) in patients taking long-term NSAIDs.
What do I need to know about Osteoarthritis for the NCLEX?
Joint pain worsens with activity and weight-bearing and is relieved by rest. Morning stiffness is brief, usually lasting less than 30 minutes. Joint involvement is typically asymmetric, affecting hips, knees, spine, and hands. Heberden's nodes (distal finger joints) and Bouchard's nodes (proximal joints) are characteristic.
What patient teaching is important for Osteoarthritis?
Lose excess weight and perform low-impact exercise to protect and strengthen joints. Apply heat for stiffness, take acetaminophen as directed, and take NSAIDs with food. Use assistive devices, supportive shoes, and good body mechanics, and rest painful joints.
Quick Tip
Joint pain worsens with activity and weight-bearing and is relieved by rest.
📖 Related Topics
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