Endocrine Test Bank
The nurse is caring for a patient with a diagnosis of Addison's disease. What sign or symptom is
most closely associated with this health problem?
A) Truncal obesity
B) Hypertension
C) Muscle weakness
D) Moon face - ANS Ans: C
Feedback:
Patients with Addison's disease demonstrate muscular weakness, anorexia, gastrointestinal
symptoms, fatigue, emaciation, dark pigmentation of the skin, and hypotension. Patients with
Cushing syndrome demonstrate truncal obesity, moon face, acne, abdominal striae, and
hypertension.
The nurse is caring for a patient with Addison's disease who is scheduled for discharge. When
teaching the patient about hormone replacement therapy, the nurse should address what topic?
A) The possibility of precipitous weight gain
B) The need for lifelong steroid replacement
C) The need to match the daily steroid dose to immediate symptoms
D) The importance of monitoring liver function - ANS Ans: B
Feedback:
Because of the need for lifelong replacement of adrenal cortex hormones to prevent addisonian
crises, the patient and family members receive explicit education about the rationale for
replacement therapy and proper dosage. Doses are not adjusted on a short-term basis. Weight
gain and hepatotoxicity are not common adverse effects.
A patient is prescribed corticosteroid therapy. What would be priority information for the nurse to
give the patient who is prescribed long-term corticosteroid therapy?
A) The patient's diet should be low protein with ample fat.
, Endocrine Test Bank
B) The patient may experience short-term changes in cognition.
C) The patient is at an increased risk for developing infection.
D) The patient is at a decreased risk for development of thrombophlebitis and
thromboembolism. - ANS Ans: C
Feedback:
The patient is at increased risk of infection and masking of signs of infection. The cardiovascular
effects of corticosteroid therapy may result in development of thrombophlebitis or
thromboembolism. Diet should be high in protein with limited fat. Changes in appearance
usually disappear when therapy is no longer necessary. Cognitive changes are not common
adverse effects.
A nurse caring for a patient with diabetes insipidus is reviewing laboratory results. What is an
expected urinalysis finding?
A) Glucose in the urine
B) Albumin in the urine
C) Highly dilute urine
D) Leukocytes in the urine - ANS Ans: C
Feedback:
Patients with diabetes insipidus produce an enormous daily output of very dilute, water-like
urine with a specific gravity of 1.001 to 1.005. The urine contains no abnormal substances such
as glucose or albumin. Leukocytes in the urine are not related to the condition of diabetes
insipidus, but would indicate a urinary tract infection, if present in the urine.
The nurse caring for a patient with Cushing syndrome is describing the dexamethasone
suppression test scheduled for tomorrow. What does the nurse explain that this test will involve?
A) Administration of dexamethasone orally, followed by a plasma cortisol level every hour for 3
hours
B) Administration of dexamethasone IV, followed by an x-ray of the adrenal glands
C) Administration of dexamethasone orally at 11 PM, and a plasma cortisol level at 8 AM the
next morning
The nurse is caring for a patient with a diagnosis of Addison's disease. What sign or symptom is
most closely associated with this health problem?
A) Truncal obesity
B) Hypertension
C) Muscle weakness
D) Moon face - ANS Ans: C
Feedback:
Patients with Addison's disease demonstrate muscular weakness, anorexia, gastrointestinal
symptoms, fatigue, emaciation, dark pigmentation of the skin, and hypotension. Patients with
Cushing syndrome demonstrate truncal obesity, moon face, acne, abdominal striae, and
hypertension.
The nurse is caring for a patient with Addison's disease who is scheduled for discharge. When
teaching the patient about hormone replacement therapy, the nurse should address what topic?
A) The possibility of precipitous weight gain
B) The need for lifelong steroid replacement
C) The need to match the daily steroid dose to immediate symptoms
D) The importance of monitoring liver function - ANS Ans: B
Feedback:
Because of the need for lifelong replacement of adrenal cortex hormones to prevent addisonian
crises, the patient and family members receive explicit education about the rationale for
replacement therapy and proper dosage. Doses are not adjusted on a short-term basis. Weight
gain and hepatotoxicity are not common adverse effects.
A patient is prescribed corticosteroid therapy. What would be priority information for the nurse to
give the patient who is prescribed long-term corticosteroid therapy?
A) The patient's diet should be low protein with ample fat.
, Endocrine Test Bank
B) The patient may experience short-term changes in cognition.
C) The patient is at an increased risk for developing infection.
D) The patient is at a decreased risk for development of thrombophlebitis and
thromboembolism. - ANS Ans: C
Feedback:
The patient is at increased risk of infection and masking of signs of infection. The cardiovascular
effects of corticosteroid therapy may result in development of thrombophlebitis or
thromboembolism. Diet should be high in protein with limited fat. Changes in appearance
usually disappear when therapy is no longer necessary. Cognitive changes are not common
adverse effects.
A nurse caring for a patient with diabetes insipidus is reviewing laboratory results. What is an
expected urinalysis finding?
A) Glucose in the urine
B) Albumin in the urine
C) Highly dilute urine
D) Leukocytes in the urine - ANS Ans: C
Feedback:
Patients with diabetes insipidus produce an enormous daily output of very dilute, water-like
urine with a specific gravity of 1.001 to 1.005. The urine contains no abnormal substances such
as glucose or albumin. Leukocytes in the urine are not related to the condition of diabetes
insipidus, but would indicate a urinary tract infection, if present in the urine.
The nurse caring for a patient with Cushing syndrome is describing the dexamethasone
suppression test scheduled for tomorrow. What does the nurse explain that this test will involve?
A) Administration of dexamethasone orally, followed by a plasma cortisol level every hour for 3
hours
B) Administration of dexamethasone IV, followed by an x-ray of the adrenal glands
C) Administration of dexamethasone orally at 11 PM, and a plasma cortisol level at 8 AM the
next morning
