STUVIA 2024/2025
Chapter 46: Pituitary, Thyroid, Parathyroid, and
Adrenal Disorders
The parents of an 11-year-old boy ask about growth hormone therapy for their child, who is shorter
than his 10-year-old sister. The nurse will tell the parents that growth hormone:
a. does not affect other hormones when given.
b. is available as an oral tablet to be taken once daily.
c. is given after tests prove that it is necessary.
d. may be given until the child's desired height is reached. - ✔✔ANS: C
Growth hormone is given only when growth hormone deficiency is determined. It cannot be given
orally. It antagonizes insulin secretion and thus can lead to the development of diabetes mellitus. It
cannot be given after the epiphyses are fused.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving growth hormone. Which assessment will the nurse
monitor daily?
a. Complete blood count
b. Height and weight
c. Renal function
%
d. Serum glucose - ✔✔ANS: D
Growth hormone antagonizes insulin secretion, so serum glucose should be monitored.
The parents of a 16-year-old boy who plays football want their child to receive growth hormone to
improve muscle strength. What will the nurse tell the parents?
a. "Growth hormone may be used to improve strength in young athletes."
b. "If the epiphyses are not fused, growth hormone may be an option."
c. "Small doses of growth hormone may be used indefinitely for this purpose."
d. "Using growth hormone to build muscle mass is not recommended." - ✔✔ANS: D
Athletes should be advised not to take growth hormone to build muscle because of its effects on
blood sugar and other side effects.
Which would be a contraindication for hormone therapy with somatropin (Genotropin) in a school-age
child?
a. Asthma
b. Dwarfism
c. Enuresis
d. Prader-Willi syndrome - ✔✔ANS: D
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, STUVIA 2024/2025
Fatalities associated with risks of taking growth hormone with Prader-Willi syndrome have been
reported, so it is contraindicated in patients with this syndrome. It is not contraindicated in patients
with asthma or enuresis. Dwarfism is an indication for hormone therapy.
A child exhibits acromegaly caused by a tumor that cannot be destroyed with radiation. Which
medication would be appropriate to treat this child?
a. Bromocriptine mesylate (Parlodel)
b. Conivaptan (Vaprisol)
c. Somatrem (Protropin)
d. Somatropin (Genotropin) - ✔✔ANS: A
Bromocriptine is used to inhibit release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland if the tumor cannot
be destroyed by radiation. Conivaptan is used for symptomatic euvolemic hyponatremia associated
with SIADH. Somatrem and somatropin are used to treat growth hormone deficiency and would make
acromegaly worse.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has hypothyroidism. To assist in differentiating between primary
and secondary hypothyroidism, the nurse will expect the provider to order which drug?
a. Liothyronine sodium (Cytomel)
%
b. Liotrix (Thyrolar)
c. Methimazole (Tapazole)
d. Thyrotropin (Thytropar) - ✔✔ANS: D
Thyrotropin is a purified extract of thyroid-stimulating hormone and is used as a diagnostic agent to
differentiate between primary and secondary hypothyroidism. Liothyronine and liotrix are thyroid
replacement drugs. Methimazole is used to decrease thyroid hormone secretion.
The nurse administers intravenous corticotropin (Acthar) to a patient. A serum cortisol level drawn 60
minutes later shows no change in serum cortisol levels from prior to the dose. What is the nurse's first
action?
a. Notify the provider to discuss a possible non-functioning adrenal gland.
b. Recognize the need for an increased dose to treat pituitary insufficiency.
c. Request an order for a second dose of corticotropin to treat cortisone deficiency.
d. Request an order to repeat the serum cortisol level in 1-2 h. - ✔✔ANS: A
Corticotropin is given to diagnose adrenal gland disorders as well as to treat adrenal gland
insufficiency. When given intravenously, the serum cortisol level should increase within 30-60 min if
the adrenal gland is functioning. The nurse should report adrenal gland dysfunction. The provider will
stuvia
Chapter 46: Pituitary, Thyroid, Parathyroid, and
Adrenal Disorders
The parents of an 11-year-old boy ask about growth hormone therapy for their child, who is shorter
than his 10-year-old sister. The nurse will tell the parents that growth hormone:
a. does not affect other hormones when given.
b. is available as an oral tablet to be taken once daily.
c. is given after tests prove that it is necessary.
d. may be given until the child's desired height is reached. - ✔✔ANS: C
Growth hormone is given only when growth hormone deficiency is determined. It cannot be given
orally. It antagonizes insulin secretion and thus can lead to the development of diabetes mellitus. It
cannot be given after the epiphyses are fused.
The nurse is caring for a patient who is receiving growth hormone. Which assessment will the nurse
monitor daily?
a. Complete blood count
b. Height and weight
c. Renal function
%
d. Serum glucose - ✔✔ANS: D
Growth hormone antagonizes insulin secretion, so serum glucose should be monitored.
The parents of a 16-year-old boy who plays football want their child to receive growth hormone to
improve muscle strength. What will the nurse tell the parents?
a. "Growth hormone may be used to improve strength in young athletes."
b. "If the epiphyses are not fused, growth hormone may be an option."
c. "Small doses of growth hormone may be used indefinitely for this purpose."
d. "Using growth hormone to build muscle mass is not recommended." - ✔✔ANS: D
Athletes should be advised not to take growth hormone to build muscle because of its effects on
blood sugar and other side effects.
Which would be a contraindication for hormone therapy with somatropin (Genotropin) in a school-age
child?
a. Asthma
b. Dwarfism
c. Enuresis
d. Prader-Willi syndrome - ✔✔ANS: D
stuvia
, STUVIA 2024/2025
Fatalities associated with risks of taking growth hormone with Prader-Willi syndrome have been
reported, so it is contraindicated in patients with this syndrome. It is not contraindicated in patients
with asthma or enuresis. Dwarfism is an indication for hormone therapy.
A child exhibits acromegaly caused by a tumor that cannot be destroyed with radiation. Which
medication would be appropriate to treat this child?
a. Bromocriptine mesylate (Parlodel)
b. Conivaptan (Vaprisol)
c. Somatrem (Protropin)
d. Somatropin (Genotropin) - ✔✔ANS: A
Bromocriptine is used to inhibit release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland if the tumor cannot
be destroyed by radiation. Conivaptan is used for symptomatic euvolemic hyponatremia associated
with SIADH. Somatrem and somatropin are used to treat growth hormone deficiency and would make
acromegaly worse.
The nurse is caring for a patient who has hypothyroidism. To assist in differentiating between primary
and secondary hypothyroidism, the nurse will expect the provider to order which drug?
a. Liothyronine sodium (Cytomel)
%
b. Liotrix (Thyrolar)
c. Methimazole (Tapazole)
d. Thyrotropin (Thytropar) - ✔✔ANS: D
Thyrotropin is a purified extract of thyroid-stimulating hormone and is used as a diagnostic agent to
differentiate between primary and secondary hypothyroidism. Liothyronine and liotrix are thyroid
replacement drugs. Methimazole is used to decrease thyroid hormone secretion.
The nurse administers intravenous corticotropin (Acthar) to a patient. A serum cortisol level drawn 60
minutes later shows no change in serum cortisol levels from prior to the dose. What is the nurse's first
action?
a. Notify the provider to discuss a possible non-functioning adrenal gland.
b. Recognize the need for an increased dose to treat pituitary insufficiency.
c. Request an order for a second dose of corticotropin to treat cortisone deficiency.
d. Request an order to repeat the serum cortisol level in 1-2 h. - ✔✔ANS: A
Corticotropin is given to diagnose adrenal gland disorders as well as to treat adrenal gland
insufficiency. When given intravenously, the serum cortisol level should increase within 30-60 min if
the adrenal gland is functioning. The nurse should report adrenal gland dysfunction. The provider will
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