ATI CARE OF PATIENTS WITH PROBLEMS OF
THE THYROID AND PARATHYROID GLANDS
EXAM WITH QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
ANSWERS GRADED A+ | 100% VERIFIED
2026-2027 UPDATE
1. A nurse assesses a client with hyperthyroidism who is prescribed
lithium carbonate. Which assessment
finding should alert the nurse to a side effect of this therapy?
a. Blurred and double vision
b. Increased thirst and urination
c. Profuse nausea and diarrhea
d. Decreased attention and insomnia - ANSWER> B
Lithium antagonizes antidiuretic hormone and can cause symptoms of
diabetes insipidus. This manifests with
increased thirst and urination. Lithium has no effect on vision, gastric
upset, or level of consciousness.
2. A nurse assesses a client who is recovering from a total
thyroidectomy and notes the development of stridor.
Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Reassure the client that the voice change is temporary.
b. Document the finding and assess the client hourly.
,c. Place the client in high-Fowler’s position and apply oxygen.
d. Contact the provider and prepare for intubation. -
ANSWER> D
Stridor on exhalation is a hallmark of respiratory distress, usually caused
by obstruction resulting from edema.
One emergency measure is to remove the surgical clips to relieve the
pressure. This might be a physician
function. The nurse should prepare to assist with emergency intubation or
tracheostomy while notifying the
provider or the Rapid Response Team. Stridor is an emergency situation;
therefore, reassuring the client,
documenting, and reassessing in an hour do not address the urgency of the
situation. Oxygen should be
applied, but this action will not keep the airway open.
3. A nurse assesses a client who is recovering from a subtotal
thyroidectomy. On the second postoperative day
the client states, I feel numbness and tingling around my mouth. What
action should the nurse take?
a. Offer mouth care.
b. Loosen the dressing.
c. Assess for Chvostek’s sign.
d. Ask the client orientation questions. - ANSWER> C
,Numbness and tingling around the mouth or in the fingers and toes are
manifestations of hypocalcemia, which
could progress to cause tetany and seizure activity. The nurse should
assess the client further by testing for
Chvostek’s sign and Trousseaus sign. Then the nurse should notify the
provider.
Mouth care, loosening the
dressing, and orientation questions do not provide important information
to prevent complications of low
calcium levels.
4. A nurse assesses a client on the medical-surgical unit. Which
statement made by the client should alert the
nurse to the possibility of hypothyroidism?
a. My sister has thyroid problems.
b. I seem to feel the heat more than other people.
c. Food just doesn’t taste good without a lot of salt.
d. I am always tired, even with 12 hours of sleep. -
ANSWER> D
Clients with hypothyroidism usually feel tired or weak despite getting
many hours of sleep. Thyroid problems
are not inherited. Heat intolerance is indicative of hyperthyroidism. Loss
of taste is not a manifestation of
hypothyroidism.
, 5. A nurse cares for a client who presents with bradycardia secondary to
hypothyroidism. Which medication
should the nurse anticipate being prescribed to the client?
a. Atropine sulfate
b. Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid)
c. Propranolol (Inderal)
d. Epinephrine (Adrenalin) - ANSWER> B
The treatment for bradycardia from hypothyroidism is to treat the
hypothyroidism using levothyroxine sodium.
If the heart rate Answered so slow that it became an emergency, then
atropine or epinephrine might be an option for
short-term management. Propranolol is a beta blocker and would be
contraindicated for a client with
bradycardia.
6. A nurse plans ANSWER> care for a client with hypothyroidism.
Which priority problem should the nurse plan to
address first for this client?
a. Heat intolerance
b. Body image problems
c. Depression and withdrawal
d. Obesity and water retention - ANSWER> C
Hypothyroidism causes many problems in psychosocial functioning.
Depression is the most common reason
THE THYROID AND PARATHYROID GLANDS
EXAM WITH QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
ANSWERS GRADED A+ | 100% VERIFIED
2026-2027 UPDATE
1. A nurse assesses a client with hyperthyroidism who is prescribed
lithium carbonate. Which assessment
finding should alert the nurse to a side effect of this therapy?
a. Blurred and double vision
b. Increased thirst and urination
c. Profuse nausea and diarrhea
d. Decreased attention and insomnia - ANSWER> B
Lithium antagonizes antidiuretic hormone and can cause symptoms of
diabetes insipidus. This manifests with
increased thirst and urination. Lithium has no effect on vision, gastric
upset, or level of consciousness.
2. A nurse assesses a client who is recovering from a total
thyroidectomy and notes the development of stridor.
Which action should the nurse take first?
a. Reassure the client that the voice change is temporary.
b. Document the finding and assess the client hourly.
,c. Place the client in high-Fowler’s position and apply oxygen.
d. Contact the provider and prepare for intubation. -
ANSWER> D
Stridor on exhalation is a hallmark of respiratory distress, usually caused
by obstruction resulting from edema.
One emergency measure is to remove the surgical clips to relieve the
pressure. This might be a physician
function. The nurse should prepare to assist with emergency intubation or
tracheostomy while notifying the
provider or the Rapid Response Team. Stridor is an emergency situation;
therefore, reassuring the client,
documenting, and reassessing in an hour do not address the urgency of the
situation. Oxygen should be
applied, but this action will not keep the airway open.
3. A nurse assesses a client who is recovering from a subtotal
thyroidectomy. On the second postoperative day
the client states, I feel numbness and tingling around my mouth. What
action should the nurse take?
a. Offer mouth care.
b. Loosen the dressing.
c. Assess for Chvostek’s sign.
d. Ask the client orientation questions. - ANSWER> C
,Numbness and tingling around the mouth or in the fingers and toes are
manifestations of hypocalcemia, which
could progress to cause tetany and seizure activity. The nurse should
assess the client further by testing for
Chvostek’s sign and Trousseaus sign. Then the nurse should notify the
provider.
Mouth care, loosening the
dressing, and orientation questions do not provide important information
to prevent complications of low
calcium levels.
4. A nurse assesses a client on the medical-surgical unit. Which
statement made by the client should alert the
nurse to the possibility of hypothyroidism?
a. My sister has thyroid problems.
b. I seem to feel the heat more than other people.
c. Food just doesn’t taste good without a lot of salt.
d. I am always tired, even with 12 hours of sleep. -
ANSWER> D
Clients with hypothyroidism usually feel tired or weak despite getting
many hours of sleep. Thyroid problems
are not inherited. Heat intolerance is indicative of hyperthyroidism. Loss
of taste is not a manifestation of
hypothyroidism.
, 5. A nurse cares for a client who presents with bradycardia secondary to
hypothyroidism. Which medication
should the nurse anticipate being prescribed to the client?
a. Atropine sulfate
b. Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid)
c. Propranolol (Inderal)
d. Epinephrine (Adrenalin) - ANSWER> B
The treatment for bradycardia from hypothyroidism is to treat the
hypothyroidism using levothyroxine sodium.
If the heart rate Answered so slow that it became an emergency, then
atropine or epinephrine might be an option for
short-term management. Propranolol is a beta blocker and would be
contraindicated for a client with
bradycardia.
6. A nurse plans ANSWER> care for a client with hypothyroidism.
Which priority problem should the nurse plan to
address first for this client?
a. Heat intolerance
b. Body image problems
c. Depression and withdrawal
d. Obesity and water retention - ANSWER> C
Hypothyroidism causes many problems in psychosocial functioning.
Depression is the most common reason
