A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The nurse is assessing the client to determine the effectiveness of the current treatment regimen. Which finding would be the best indicator that the client's RA management is effective?

A. Tachypnea: Tachypnea, or rapid breathing, is a common symptom of pulmonary embolism. It occurs as the body attempts to compensate for decreased oxygenation and increased carbon dioxide levels resulting from impaired blood flow to the lungs. Tachypnea helps to improve gas exchange by increasing ventilation.

B. Wet cough: A wet or productive cough may occur in conditions such as pneumonia or chronic bronchitis but is not typically associated with pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is more commonly characterized by symptoms such as dyspnea, chest pain, and tachypnea.

C. Dull chest pain: Chest pain associated with pulmonary embolism is often sharp and pleuritic, meaning it worsens with deep breathing or coughing. It may be described as stabbing or like a "knife-like" sensation. Dull chest pain is not a typical finding in pulmonary embolism.

D. Episodes of apnea: While severe cases of pulmonary embolism can lead to respiratory failure and apnea, it is not a common presenting symptom. Most clients with pulmonary embolism will exhibit tachypnea as a compensatory mechanism to maintain adequate oxygenation.

A. The client expresses feelings of frustration and difficulty coping with the chronic nature of RA: This indicates the client is struggling emotionally, which is common in chronic illnesses but does not directly reflect the effectiveness of the RA treatment regimen.

B. The client's C-reactive protein (CRP) levels have remained stable since the initiation of treatment: While stable CRP levels can indicate control of inflammation, they do not show improvement. Ideally, effective treatment would reduce CRP levels.

C. The client demonstrates improved range of motion in the affected joints during physical therapy sessions: Improved range of motion is a positive outcome, but it may not fully represent the overall effectiveness of the RA treatment, as joint damage can still progress.

D. The client's radiographic images show no progression of joint erosion compared to images from six months ago: This is the best indicator of effective RA management as it directly shows that the treatment is preventing further joint damage, which is a primary goal in managing RA.