ATI Medical-Surgical | Endocrine Disorders Exam 2026
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has Addison’s disease and is taking
hydrocortisone. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
B. Notify the provider if you experience increased stress.
C. Decrease the dose if you have a fever.
D. Expect to lose weight while taking this medication.
Answer: B
Rationale: Clients with Addison’s disease require increased doses of glucocorticoids
during times of stress (infection, surgery, trauma) to prevent an Addisonian crisis.
2. A client with Type 1 Diabetes is being treated for Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA).
Which of the following laboratory findings should the nurse expect?
A. Serum pH 7.45
B. Blood glucose 110 mg/dL
C. Serum bicarbonate 12 mEq/L
D. Negative urine ketones
Answer: C
Rationale: DKA is characterized by metabolic acidosis, which manifests as a low serum
bicarbonate level (less than 18 mEq/L) and low pH.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client who has Cushing’s syndrome. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Hypotension
B. Hyperpigmentation of the skin
C. Truncal obesity
D. Weight loss
Answer: C
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome is caused by an excess of cortisol, leading to fat
redistribution resulting in truncal obesity, moon face, and a buffalo hump.
4. A client is diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidus (DI). The nurse should monitor
the client for which of the following manifestations?
A. Excessive thirst
B. Increased urine specific gravity
C. Low urine output
D. Bradycardia
Answer: A
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus results in massive diuresis and dehydration, causing
compensatory polydipsia (excessive thirst).
5. A nurse is providing teaching to a client with Grave’s disease who has a new
prescription for methimazole. Which of the following statements indicates
understanding?
A. I will take this medicine once a day in the morning.
B. I need to stop this medicine if I get a sore throat.
C. This medicine will work within 24 hours.
D. I should increase my intake of iodine while on this drug.
Answer: B
, Rationale: Methimazole can cause agranulocytosis. Clients should report a sore throat or
fever immediately to the provider.
6. Which of the following interventions is a priority for a client in a Myxedema
Coma?
A. Starting a cooling blanket
B. Administering IV levothyroxine
C. Restricting fluid intake
D. Encouraging high-fiber diet
Answer: B
Rationale: Myxedema coma is a severe form of hypothyroidism. Immediate IV replacement
of thyroid hormone is critical for survival.
7. A nurse is assessing a client with SIADH. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Polyuria
B. Sodium 115 mEq/L
C. High serum osmolality
D. Urine specific gravity 1.001
Answer: B
Rationale: SIADH involves excessive ADH, leading to water retention and dilutional
hyponatremia (sodium level below 135 mEq/L).
8. A nurse is caring for a client post-thyroidectomy. The client reports tingling in
the fingers. Which medication should the nurse have available?
A. Potassium chloride
B. Magnesium sulfate
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Sodium bicarbonate
Answer: C
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has Addison’s disease and is taking
hydrocortisone. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
A. Take the medication on an empty stomach.
B. Notify the provider if you experience increased stress.
C. Decrease the dose if you have a fever.
D. Expect to lose weight while taking this medication.
Answer: B
Rationale: Clients with Addison’s disease require increased doses of glucocorticoids
during times of stress (infection, surgery, trauma) to prevent an Addisonian crisis.
2. A client with Type 1 Diabetes is being treated for Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA).
Which of the following laboratory findings should the nurse expect?
A. Serum pH 7.45
B. Blood glucose 110 mg/dL
C. Serum bicarbonate 12 mEq/L
D. Negative urine ketones
Answer: C
Rationale: DKA is characterized by metabolic acidosis, which manifests as a low serum
bicarbonate level (less than 18 mEq/L) and low pH.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client who has Cushing’s syndrome. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Hypotension
B. Hyperpigmentation of the skin
C. Truncal obesity
D. Weight loss
Answer: C
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome is caused by an excess of cortisol, leading to fat
redistribution resulting in truncal obesity, moon face, and a buffalo hump.
4. A client is diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidus (DI). The nurse should monitor
the client for which of the following manifestations?
A. Excessive thirst
B. Increased urine specific gravity
C. Low urine output
D. Bradycardia
Answer: A
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus results in massive diuresis and dehydration, causing
compensatory polydipsia (excessive thirst).
5. A nurse is providing teaching to a client with Grave’s disease who has a new
prescription for methimazole. Which of the following statements indicates
understanding?
A. I will take this medicine once a day in the morning.
B. I need to stop this medicine if I get a sore throat.
C. This medicine will work within 24 hours.
D. I should increase my intake of iodine while on this drug.
Answer: B
, Rationale: Methimazole can cause agranulocytosis. Clients should report a sore throat or
fever immediately to the provider.
6. Which of the following interventions is a priority for a client in a Myxedema
Coma?
A. Starting a cooling blanket
B. Administering IV levothyroxine
C. Restricting fluid intake
D. Encouraging high-fiber diet
Answer: B
Rationale: Myxedema coma is a severe form of hypothyroidism. Immediate IV replacement
of thyroid hormone is critical for survival.
7. A nurse is assessing a client with SIADH. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Polyuria
B. Sodium 115 mEq/L
C. High serum osmolality
D. Urine specific gravity 1.001
Answer: B
Rationale: SIADH involves excessive ADH, leading to water retention and dilutional
hyponatremia (sodium level below 135 mEq/L).
8. A nurse is caring for a client post-thyroidectomy. The client reports tingling in
the fingers. Which medication should the nurse have available?
A. Potassium chloride
B. Magnesium sulfate
C. Calcium gluconate
D. Sodium bicarbonate
Answer: C
