Endocrine
Which of the following diagnostic tests are done to determine a suspected pituitary tumor?
A CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is used to diagnose the presence and extent of pituitary tumors.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) has which effects on the kidney?
PTH stimulates the kidneys to reabsorb calcium and excrete phosphate and converts vitamin D to its active form, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. PTH doesn't have a role in the metabolism of vitamin E.
Which glands regulate calcium and phosphorous metabolism?
Parathormone (parathyroid hormone), the protein hormone produced by the parathyroid glands, regulates calcium and phosphorous metabolism. The thyroid gland controls cellular metabolic activity. The adrenal medulla at the center of the adrenal gland secretes catecholamines, and the outer portion of the gland, the adrenal cortex, secretes steroid hormones. The pituitary gland secretes hormones that control the secretion of additional hormones by other endocrine glands.
Which of the following endocrine disorder causes the patient to have dilutional hyponatremia
Patients diagnosed with SIADH retain water and develop a subsequent sodium deficiency known as dilutional hyponatremia. In DI, there is excessive thirst and large volumes of dilute urine. Patients with DI, hypothyroidism, or hyperthyroidism do not exhibit dilutional hyponatremia
When assessing a client with pheochromocytoma, a tumor of the adrenal medulla that secretes excessive catecholamine, the nurse is most likely to detect:
Pheochromocytoma causes hypertension, tachycardia, hyperglycemia, hypermetabolism, and weight loss.
The nurse is aware that the best time of day for the total large corticosteroid dose is between:
7:00 AM and 8:00 AM
The nurse is planning the care of a patient with hyperthyroidism. What should the nurse specify in the patient's meal plan?
A patient with hyperthyroidism has an increased appetite. The patient should be counseled to consume several small, well-balanced meals. High-calorie, high-protein foods are encouraged. A clear liquid diet would not satisfy the patient's caloric or hunger needs. A diet rich in fiber and fat should be avoided because these foods may lead to GI upset or increase peristalsis.
Which of the following disorders results from excessive secretion of somatotropin (growth hormone)?
Acromegaly *The patient with acromegaly demonstrates progressive enlargement of peripheral body parts, most commonly the face, head, hands, and feet. Cretinism occurs as a result of congenital hypothyroidism. Dwarfism is caused by insufficient secretion of growth hormone during childhood. Adrenogenital syndrome is the result of abnormal secretion of adrenocortical hormones, especially androgen.
Wallace Guterman, a 36-year-old construction manager, is being seen by a healthcare provider in the primary care group where you practice nursing. He presents with a huge lower jaw, bulging forehead, large hands and feet, and frequent headaches. What could be causing his symptoms?
Acromegaly (hyperpituitarism) is a condition in which growth hormone is oversecreted after the epiphyses of the long bones have sealed. A client with acromegaly has coarse features, a huge lower jaw, thick lips, a thickened tongue, a bulging forehead, a bulbous nose, and large hands and feet. When the overgrowth is from a tumor, headaches caused by pressure on the sella turcica are common.
The nurse assesses a patient who has been diagnosed with Addison's disease. Which of the following is a diagnostic sign of this disease?
Addison's disease is characterized by hypotension, low blood glucose, low serum sodium, and high serum potassium levels. The normal serum potassium level is 3.5 to 5 mEq/L.
A nurse is planning care for a client in acute addisonian crisis. Which nursing diagnosis should receive the highest priority?
An acute addisonian crisis is a life-threatening event, caused by deficiencies of cortisol and aldosterone. Glucocorticoid insufficiency causes a decrease in cardiac output and vascular tone, leading to hypovolemia. The client becomes tachycardic and hypotensive and may develop shock and circulatory collapse. The client with Addison's disease is at risk for infection; however, reducing infection isn't a priority during an addisonian crisis
The nurse is administering a medication to a client with hyperthyroidism to block the production of thyroid hormone. The client is not a candidate for surgical intervention at this time. What medication should the nurse administer to the client?
Antithyroid drugs, such as propylthiouracil(PTU) and methimazoleare given to block the production of thyroid hormone preoperatively or for long-term treatment for clients who are not candidates for surgery or radiation treatment. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) would increase the level of thyroid and be contraindicated in this client. Spironolactone (Aldactone) is a diuretic and does not have the action of blocking production of thyroid hormone and neither does propranolol (Inderal), which is a beta-blocker.
When caring for a client with diabetes insipidus, the nurse expects to administer:
Because diabetes insipidus results from decreased antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) production, the nurse should expect to administer synthetic vasopressin for hormone replacement therapy. Furosemide, a diuretic, is contraindicated because a client with diabetes insipidus experiences polyuria. Insulin and dextrose are used to treat diabetes mellitus and its complications, not diabetes insipidus.
During the first 24 hours after a client is diagnosed with addisonian crisis, which intervention should the nurse perform frequently?
Because the client in addisonian crisis is unstable, vital signs and fluid and electrolyte balance should be assessed every 30 minutes until he's stable. Daily weights are sufficient when assessing the client's condition. The client shouldn't have ketones in his urine, so there is no need to assess the urine for their presence. Oral hydrocortisone isn't administered during the first 24 hours in severe adrenal insufficiency.
Beta-blockers are used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism to counteract which of the following effects?
Beta-adrenergic blocking agents are important in controlling the sympathetic nervous system effects of hyperthyroidism. For example, propranolol is used to control nervousness, tachycardia, tremor, anxiety, and heat intolerance.
When high levels of plasma calcium occur, the nurse is aware that the following hormone will be secreted:
Calcitonin, secreted in response to high plasma levels of calcium, reduces the calcium level by increasing its deposition in the bone.
After undergoing a thyroidectomy, a client develops hypocalcemia and tetany. Which electrolyte should the nurse anticipate administering?
Calcium glutinate *Immediate treatment for a client who develops hypocalcemia and tetany after thyroidectomy is calcium gluconate. Potassium chloride and sodium bicarbonate aren't indicated. Sodium phosphorus wouldn't be given because phosphorus levels are already elevated.
Cardiac effects of hyperthyroidism include which of the following?
Cardiac effects may include sinus tachycardia, increased pulse pressure, and palpitations. Systolic blood pressure is elevated.
The nurse is assessing a client in the clinic who appears restless, excitable, and agitated. The nurse observes that the client has exophthalmos and neck swelling. What diagnosis do these clinical manifestations correlate with?
Clients with hyperthyroidism characteristically are restless despite felling fatigued and weak, highly excitable, and constantly agitated. Fine tremors of the hand occur, causing unusual clumsiness. The client cannot tolerate heat and has an increased appetite but loses weight. Diarrhea also occurs. Visual changes, such as blurred or double vision, can develop. Exophthalmos, seen in clients with severe hyperthyroidism, results from enlarged muscle and fatty tissue surrounding the rear and sides of the eyeball. Neck swelling caused by the enlarged thyroid gland often is visible. Hypothyroidism clinical manifestations are the opposite of what is seen as hyperthyroidism.SIADH and DI clinical manifestations do not correlate with the symptoms manifested by the client.
Which of the following glands is considered the master gland?
Commonly referred to as the master gland, the pituitary gland secretes hormones that control the secretion of additional hormones by other endocrine glands. The thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands are not considered the master gland.
A patient with hypofunction of the adrenal cortex has been admitted to the medical unit. What would the nurse most likely find when assessing this patient?
Decreased BP may occur with hypofunction of the adrenal cortex. Decreased function of the adrenal cortex does not affect the patient's body temperature, urine output, or skin tone.
A client is having chronic pain from arthritis. What type of hormone is released in response to the stress of this pain that suppresses inflammation and helps the body withstand stress?
Glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, affect body metabolism, suppress inflammation, and help the body withstand stress. Mineralocorticoids, primarily aldosterone, maintain water and electrolyte balances. The androgenic hormones convert to testosterone and estrogens.
A middle-aged female client complains of anxiety, insomnia, weight loss, the inability to concentrate, and eyes feeling "gritty." Thyroid function tests reveal the following: thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 0.02 U/ml, thyroxine 20 g/dl, and triiodothyronine 253 ng/dl. A 6-hour radioactive iodine uptake test showed a diffuse uptake of 85%. Based on these assessment findings, the nurse should suspect
Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease causing hyperthyroidism, is most prevalent in middle-aged females. In Hashimoto's thyroiditis, the most common form of hypothyroidism, TSH levels would be high and thyroid hormone levels low. In thyroiditis, radioactive iodine uptake is low (?2%), and a client with a multinodular goiter will show an uptake in the high-normal range (3% to 10%).
Ross Babcock, a 42-year-old firefighter, is being seen by an endocrinologist at the endocrinology group where you practice nursing. At this visit, he will receive results of previously ordered diagnostics. During your client education session, you describe the role of endocrine glands. Which of the following homeostatic processes are regulated by hormones?
Hormones circulate in the blood until they reach receptors in target cells or other endocrine glands. They play a vital role in regulating homeostatic processes such as metabolism, growth, fluid and electrolyte balance, reproductive processes, sleep and wake cycles, etc. Hormones play a vital role in regulating growth. Hormones play a vital role in regulating fluid and electrolyte balance. Hormones play a vital role in regulating sleep and wake cycles.
What does a positive Chvostek's sign indicate
Hypocalcemia
A client is receiving insulin lispro at 7:30 AM. The nurse ensures that the client has breakfast by which time?
Insulin lispro has an onset of 5 to 15 minutes. Therefore, the nurse would need to ensure that the client has his breakfast by 7:45 AM at the latest. Otherwise, the client may experience hypoglycemia.
A nurse teaches a client with newly diagnosed hypothyroidism about the need for thyroid hormone replacement therapy to restore normal thyroid function. Which thyroid preparation is the agent of choice for thyroid hormone replacement therapy?
Levothyroxine (Synthroid) *Levothyroxine is the agent of choice for thyroid hormone replacement therapy because its standard hormone content provides predictable results. Methimazole is an antithyroid medication used to treat hyperthyroidism. Thyroid USP desiccated and liothyronine are no longer used for thyroid hormone replacement therapy because they may cause fluctuating plasma drug levels, increasing the risk of adverse effects.
A patient has been admitted to the post-surgical unit following a thyroidectomy. To promote comfort and safety, how should the nurse best position the patient?
Semi-Fowler's with the head supported on two pillows
Anna Brikenwald, a 77-year-old retired chef, has lived alone for many years. She has a 20-year history of hypothyroidism and has not been compliant with taking thyroid replacement therapy. Ms. Brikenwald is brought into the ED where you practice nursing and is given a diagnosis of myxedema coma. What signs and symptoms are consistent with this life-threatening event?
Signs of this life-threatening event are hypothermia, hypotension, and hypoventilation.
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory order for a client suspected of having an endocrine disorder. The lab slip includes obtaining cortisol levels. Which of the following is being tested?
The adrenal cortex manufactures and secretes glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, which affect body metabolism, suppress inflammation, and help the body withstand stress. The adrenal cortex manufactures and secretes cortisol.
A group of students are reviewing material about endocrine system function. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify which of the following as secreted by the adrenal medulla?
The adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine. The adrenal cortex manufactures and secretes glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and small amounts of androgenic sex hormones. Glucagon is released by the pancreas.
A nurse is caring for a client with a kidney disorder. What role might the kidneys have in causing the client to have fluctuations in blood pressure?
The kidneys release renin, a hormone that initiates the production of angiotensin and aldosterone to increase blood pressure and blood volume.
The most common type of goiter is caused by lack of which of the following
The most common type of goiter is often encountered in geographic regions where there is lack of iodine. If too little iodine exists, the level of thyroxine will decrease, causing the stimulation of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary.
The nurse on the telemetry floor is caring for a patient with long-standing hypothyroidism who has been taking synthetic thyroid hormone replacement sporadically. What is a priority that the nurse monitors for in this patient?
The nurse must monitor for signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which can occur in response to therapy in patients with severe, long-standing hypothyroidism or myxedema coma, especially during the early phase of treatment. ACS must be aggressively treated at once to avoid morbid complications (e.g., myocardial infarction).
What should the nurse teach a patient on corticosteroid therapy in order to reduce the patient's risk of adrenal insufficiency?
The patient and family should be informed that acute adrenal insufficiency and underlying symptoms will recur if corticosteroid therapy is stopped abruptly without medical supervision. The patient should be instructed to have an adequate supply of the corticosteroid medication always available to avoid running out. Doses should not be skipped or added without explicit instructions to do so. Corticosteroids should normally be taken in the morning to mimic natural rhythms.
Which of the following disorders is characterized by a group of symptoms produced by an excess of free circulating cortisol from the adrenal cortex?
The patient with Cushing syndrome demonstrates truncal obesity, moon face, acne, abdominal striae, and hypertension. Regardless of the cause, the normal feedback mechanisms that control the function of the adrenal cortex become ineffective, and the usual diurnal pattern of cortisol is lost. The signs and symptoms of Cushing syndrome are primarily a result of the oversecretion of glucocorticoids and androgens, although mineralocorticoid secretion also may be affected.
A nurse is instructing a client with newly diagnosed hypoparathyroidism about the regimen used to treat this disorder. The nurse should state that the physician probably will order daily supplements of calcium and:
Typically, clients with hypoparathyroidism are ordered daily supplements of vitamin D along with calcium because calcium absorption from the small intestine depends on vitamin D. Hypoparathyroidism doesn't cause a deficiency of folic acid, potassium, or iron. Therefore, the client doesn't require daily supplements of these substances to maintain a normal serum calcium level.
The nurse is reviewing a client's history which reveals that the client has had an over secretion of growth hormone (GH) that occurred before puberty. The nurse interprets this as which of the following?
When over secretion of GH occurs before puberty, gigantism results. Dwarfism occurs when secretion of GH is insufficient during childhood. Oversecretion of GH during adulthood results in acromegaly. An absence of pituitary hormonal activity causes Simmonds' disease.
Wendy Corcoran, a 34-year-old teacher, is being seen at the primary care group where you practice nursing. She is undergoing diagnostics for an alteration in thyroid function. What physiologic function is affected by her altered thyroid function?
The thyroid concentrates iodine from food and uses it to synthesize thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These two hormones regulate the body's metabolic rate. Metabolic rate would be altered.
A client with acromegaly has been given the option of a surgical approach or a medical approach. The client decides to have a surgical procedure to remove the pituitary gland. What does the nurse understand this surgical procedure is called?
The treatment of choice is surgical removal of the pituitary gland (transsphenoidal hypophysectomy) through a nasal approach. The surgeon may substitute an endoscopic technique using microsurgical instruments to reduce surgical trauma. A hysteroscopy is a gynecologic procedure. The thyroid gland is not involved for a surgical procedure. Ablation is not a removal of the pituitary gland.
Early this morning, a client had a subtotal thyroidectomy. During evening rounds, the nurse assesses the client, who now has nausea, a temperature of 105° F (40.5° C), tachycardia, and extreme restlessness. What is the most likely cause of these signs?
Thyroid crisis usually occurs in the first 12 hours after thyroidectomy and causes exaggerated signs of hyperthyroidism, such as high fever, tachycardia, and extreme restlessness. Diabetic ketoacidosis is more likely to produce polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia. Hypoglycemia is likely to produce weakness, tremors, profuse perspiration, and hunger. Tetany typically causes uncontrollable muscle spasms, stridor, cyanosis, and possibly asphyxia.
For a client with hyperthyroidism, treatment is most likely to include
Thyroid hormone antagonists, which block thyroid hormone synthesis, combat increased production of thyroid hormone. Treatment of hyperthyroidism also may include radioiodine therapy, which destroys some thyroid gland cells, and surgery to remove part of the thyroid gland; both treatments decrease thyroid hormone production. Thyroid extract, synthetic thyroid hormone, and emollient lotions are used to treat hypothyroidism.
A client is admitted for treatment of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Which nursing intervention is appropriate?
To reduce water retention in a client with the SIADH, the nurse should restrict fluids. Administering fluids by any route would further increase the client's already heightened fluid load.
