NR511
NR511 Final Exam Differential Diagnosis and
Primary Care – 450+ Practice Questions with
Verified Answers Latest / NR 511 Final Exam
Prep Test Bank
A client with Graves' disease is treated with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the
form of sodium iodide 131I. Which of the following statements by the nurse will explain to
the client how the drug works?
1. "The RAI stabilizes the thyroid hormone levels before a thyroidectomy."
2. "The RAI reduces uptake of thyroxine and thereby improves your condition."
3. "The RAI lowers the levels of thyroid hormones by slowing your body's
production of them."
4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so that thyroid hormones are no longer produced."
- Correct Answer :4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so that thyroid hormones are no longer
produced."
A+ TEST BANK 1
, NR511
Sodium iodide 131I destroys the thyroid follicular cells, and thyroid hormones are no longer
produced. RAI is commonly recommended for clients with Graves'
disease, especially the elderly. The treatment results in a "medical thyroidectomy." RAI is
given in lieu of surgery, not before surgery. RAI does not reduce uptake of thyroxine.
The outcome of giving RAI is the destruction of the thyroid follicular cells. It is possible to
slow the production of thyroid hormones with RAI.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
After treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the form of sodium iodide 131I, the nurse
teaches the client to:
1. Monitor for signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
2. Rest for 1 week to prevent complications of the medication.
3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the client's life.
4. Assess for hypertension and tachycardia resulting from altered thyroid activity. –
Correct Answer :3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the client's life.
The client needs to be educated about the need for lifelong thyroid hormone replacement.
Permanent hypothyroidism is the major complication of RAI 131I treatment. Lifelong medical
follow-up and thyroid replacement are warranted. The client needs to
monitor for signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, not hyperthyroidism. Resting for 1 week
is not necessary. Hypertension and tachycardia are signs of hyperthyroidism, not
hypothyroidism.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
A+ TEST BANK 2
, NR511
A client with a large goiter is scheduled for a subtotal thyroidectomy to treat thyrotoxicosis.
Saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI) is prescribed preoperatively for the client. The
expected outcome of using this drug is that it helps:
1. Slow progression of exophthalmos.
2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
3. Decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine.
4. Increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine. –
Correct Answer :2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
SSKI is frequently administered before a thyroidectomy because it helps decrease the
vascularity of the thyroid gland. A highly vascular thyroid gland is very friable, a condition
that presents a hazard during surgery. Preparation of the client for surgery includes
depleting the gland of thyroid hormone and decreasing vascularity.
SSKI does not decrease the progression of exophthalmos, and it does not decrease the
body's ability to store thyroxine or increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
The nurse is administering a saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI). The nurse should:
1. Pour the solution over ice chips.
2. Mix the solution with an antacid.
3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the client drink it with a straw.
4. Disguise the solution in a pureed fruit or vegetable. –
A+ TEST BANK 3
, NR511
Correct Answer :3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the client
drink it with a straw.
SSKI should be diluted well in milk, water, juice, or a carbonated beverage before
administration to help disguise the strong, bitter taste. Also, this drug is irritating
to mucosa if taken undiluted. The client should sip the diluted preparation through a
drinking straw to help prevent staining of the teeth. Pouring the solution over ice chips will
not sufficiently dilute the SSKI or cover the taste. Antacids are not used to dilute or cover
the taste of SSKI. Mixing in a puree would put the SSKI in contact with the teeth.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
Following a subtotal thyroidectomy, the nurse asks the client to speak
immediately upon regaining consciousness. The nurse does this to monitor for signs of
which of the following?
1. Internal hemorrhage.
2. Decreasing level of consciousness.
3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
4. Upper airway obstruction. –
Correct Answer :3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
Laryngeal nerve damage is a potential complication of thyroid surgery because of the
proximity of the thyroid gland to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Asking the
client to speak helps assess for signs of laryngeal nerve damage. Persistent or worsening
hoarseness and weak voice are signs of laryngeal nerve damage and should
be reported to the physician immediately. Internal hemorrhage is detected by changes in
vital signs. The client's level of consciousness can be partially assessed by asking her to
A+ TEST BANK 4
NR511 Final Exam Differential Diagnosis and
Primary Care – 450+ Practice Questions with
Verified Answers Latest / NR 511 Final Exam
Prep Test Bank
A client with Graves' disease is treated with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the
form of sodium iodide 131I. Which of the following statements by the nurse will explain to
the client how the drug works?
1. "The RAI stabilizes the thyroid hormone levels before a thyroidectomy."
2. "The RAI reduces uptake of thyroxine and thereby improves your condition."
3. "The RAI lowers the levels of thyroid hormones by slowing your body's
production of them."
4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so that thyroid hormones are no longer produced."
- Correct Answer :4. "The RAI destroys thyroid tissue so that thyroid hormones are no longer
produced."
A+ TEST BANK 1
, NR511
Sodium iodide 131I destroys the thyroid follicular cells, and thyroid hormones are no longer
produced. RAI is commonly recommended for clients with Graves'
disease, especially the elderly. The treatment results in a "medical thyroidectomy." RAI is
given in lieu of surgery, not before surgery. RAI does not reduce uptake of thyroxine.
The outcome of giving RAI is the destruction of the thyroid follicular cells. It is possible to
slow the production of thyroid hormones with RAI.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
After treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI) in the form of sodium iodide 131I, the nurse
teaches the client to:
1. Monitor for signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
2. Rest for 1 week to prevent complications of the medication.
3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the client's life.
4. Assess for hypertension and tachycardia resulting from altered thyroid activity. –
Correct Answer :3. Take thyroxine replacement for the remainder of the client's life.
The client needs to be educated about the need for lifelong thyroid hormone replacement.
Permanent hypothyroidism is the major complication of RAI 131I treatment. Lifelong medical
follow-up and thyroid replacement are warranted. The client needs to
monitor for signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, not hyperthyroidism. Resting for 1 week
is not necessary. Hypertension and tachycardia are signs of hyperthyroidism, not
hypothyroidism.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Synthesize
A+ TEST BANK 2
, NR511
A client with a large goiter is scheduled for a subtotal thyroidectomy to treat thyrotoxicosis.
Saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI) is prescribed preoperatively for the client. The
expected outcome of using this drug is that it helps:
1. Slow progression of exophthalmos.
2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
3. Decrease the body's ability to store thyroxine.
4. Increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine. –
Correct Answer :2. Reduce the vascularity of the thyroid gland.
SSKI is frequently administered before a thyroidectomy because it helps decrease the
vascularity of the thyroid gland. A highly vascular thyroid gland is very friable, a condition
that presents a hazard during surgery. Preparation of the client for surgery includes
depleting the gland of thyroid hormone and decreasing vascularity.
SSKI does not decrease the progression of exophthalmos, and it does not decrease the
body's ability to store thyroxine or increase the body's ability to excrete thyroxine.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
The nurse is administering a saturated solution of potassium iodide (SSKI). The nurse should:
1. Pour the solution over ice chips.
2. Mix the solution with an antacid.
3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the client drink it with a straw.
4. Disguise the solution in a pureed fruit or vegetable. –
A+ TEST BANK 3
, NR511
Correct Answer :3. Dilute the solution with water, milk, or fruit juice and have the client
drink it with a straw.
SSKI should be diluted well in milk, water, juice, or a carbonated beverage before
administration to help disguise the strong, bitter taste. Also, this drug is irritating
to mucosa if taken undiluted. The client should sip the diluted preparation through a
drinking straw to help prevent staining of the teeth. Pouring the solution over ice chips will
not sufficiently dilute the SSKI or cover the taste. Antacids are not used to dilute or cover
the taste of SSKI. Mixing in a puree would put the SSKI in contact with the teeth.
CN: Pharmacological and parenteral therapies; CL: Apply
Following a subtotal thyroidectomy, the nurse asks the client to speak
immediately upon regaining consciousness. The nurse does this to monitor for signs of
which of the following?
1. Internal hemorrhage.
2. Decreasing level of consciousness.
3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
4. Upper airway obstruction. –
Correct Answer :3. Laryngeal nerve damage.
Laryngeal nerve damage is a potential complication of thyroid surgery because of the
proximity of the thyroid gland to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Asking the
client to speak helps assess for signs of laryngeal nerve damage. Persistent or worsening
hoarseness and weak voice are signs of laryngeal nerve damage and should
be reported to the physician immediately. Internal hemorrhage is detected by changes in
vital signs. The client's level of consciousness can be partially assessed by asking her to
A+ TEST BANK 4
