PNM 300 Test 3 Prep Practice Questions
Actual Exam 2026/2027 – 100% Verified |
Detailed Rationales – Pass Guaranteed –
A+ Graded
1. After a patient assessment, the nurse concludes that the
patient has undersecretion of adrenocortical hormones.
Which finding would cause the nurse to arrive at this
conclusion?
a. Osteoporosis
b. Fluid volume excess
c. Steroid-induced psychosis
d. Unexplained weight loss
Correct Answer: d. Unexplained weight loss
Rationale: Dehydration and weight loss are caused by the
undersecretion of adrenocortical hormones, which may indicate
Addison's disease. Osteoporosis, steroid psychosis, and water
retention are caused by excess production of glucocorticoids.
2. A client with adrenal insufficiency has been admitted to the
intensive care unit in adrenal crisis. What assessment findings
support this diagnosis? (Select all that apply.)
a. Physiological exhaustion
b. Hypertension
c. Fluid shift
d. Shock
e. Septicemia
, Correct Answer: a, c, d
Rationale: Symptoms of adrenal crisis include physiological
exhaustion, hypotension, fluid shift, shock, and even death.
Hypotension rather than hypertension would be expected.
Septicemia is a possible cause of adrenal crisis, not a symptom.
3. A patient is undergoing glucocorticoid therapy. Which
medication would the nurse administer to the patient for mild
pain management?
a. Aspirin
b. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
c. Ibuprofen (Motrin)
d. Naproxen sodium (Naprosyn)
Correct Answer: b. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Rationale: Acetaminophen does not cause gastric distress as do
aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and glucocorticoids. This
medication would be the least likely to cause additive effects,
because the patient on steroids is already at risk for gastric
distress.
4. A patient will be starting therapy with a corticosteroid. The
nurse reviews the patient's orders and notes that an
interaction may occur if the corticosteroid is taken with which
of these drug classes?
a. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
b. Antibiotics
c. Opioid analgesics
d. Antidepressants
Correct Answer: a. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
, Rationale: The use of corticosteroids with aspirin, other NSAIDs,
and other ulcerogenic drugs produces additive gastrointestinal
effects and an increased chance for the development of gastric
ulcers.
5. A patient is taking fludrocortisone (Florinef®) for
Addison's disease. His wife is concerned about all the
problems that may occur with this therapy. Which is a true
statement about fludrocortisone therapy?
a. It may cause severe postural hypotension.
b. To minimize gastrointestinal upset, the medication should be
taken with food or milk.
c. The medication should be stopped immediately if nausea or
vomiting occurs.
d. Weight gain of 2.3 kg or more in 1 week is an expected adverse
effect.
Correct Answer: b. To minimize gastrointestinal upset, the
medication should be taken with food or milk.
6. A patient newly diagnosed with hypothyroidism received a
prescription for a thyroid drug. In addition to assessing for
hypersensitivity and myocardial infarction, for what should
the nurse also assess before administering the thyroid drug?
a. Infections
b. Diabetes mellitus
c. Lupus erythematosus
d. Adrenal insufficiency
Correct Answer: d. Adrenal insufficiency
Rationale: Thyroid hormones increase metabolic rate and can
precipitate acute adrenal crisis in patients with underlying adrenal
, insufficiency. Cortisol levels must be adequate before starting
thyroid replacement to avoid life-threatening complications.
7. A patient with hypothyroidism is given a prescription for
levothyroxine (Synthroid®). When the nurse explains that
levothyroxine is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone, the
patient states that a more natural form of drug would be
personally preferred. What is the nurse's best explanation to
the patient for the use of levothyroxine?
a. The synthetic form has a stronger effect than the natural forms.
b. Levothyroxine is less expensive than the natural forms.
c. The oral form has fewer adverse effects on the gastrointestinal
tract.
d. Because the half-life of levothyroxine is longer than that of the
natural forms, once-a-day dosing is possible.
Correct Answer: d. Because the half-life of levothyroxine is longer
than that of the natural forms, once-a-day dosing is possible.
Rationale: Levothyroxine has a long half-life (approximately 7
days) and its effects are more predictable than natural forms,
allowing for once-daily dosing.
8. Which condition may be caused by low levels of thyroid
hormone in youth?
a. Goiter
b. Myxedema
c. Cretinism
d. Addison's disease
Correct Answer: c. Cretinism
Actual Exam 2026/2027 – 100% Verified |
Detailed Rationales – Pass Guaranteed –
A+ Graded
1. After a patient assessment, the nurse concludes that the
patient has undersecretion of adrenocortical hormones.
Which finding would cause the nurse to arrive at this
conclusion?
a. Osteoporosis
b. Fluid volume excess
c. Steroid-induced psychosis
d. Unexplained weight loss
Correct Answer: d. Unexplained weight loss
Rationale: Dehydration and weight loss are caused by the
undersecretion of adrenocortical hormones, which may indicate
Addison's disease. Osteoporosis, steroid psychosis, and water
retention are caused by excess production of glucocorticoids.
2. A client with adrenal insufficiency has been admitted to the
intensive care unit in adrenal crisis. What assessment findings
support this diagnosis? (Select all that apply.)
a. Physiological exhaustion
b. Hypertension
c. Fluid shift
d. Shock
e. Septicemia
, Correct Answer: a, c, d
Rationale: Symptoms of adrenal crisis include physiological
exhaustion, hypotension, fluid shift, shock, and even death.
Hypotension rather than hypertension would be expected.
Septicemia is a possible cause of adrenal crisis, not a symptom.
3. A patient is undergoing glucocorticoid therapy. Which
medication would the nurse administer to the patient for mild
pain management?
a. Aspirin
b. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
c. Ibuprofen (Motrin)
d. Naproxen sodium (Naprosyn)
Correct Answer: b. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Rationale: Acetaminophen does not cause gastric distress as do
aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and glucocorticoids. This
medication would be the least likely to cause additive effects,
because the patient on steroids is already at risk for gastric
distress.
4. A patient will be starting therapy with a corticosteroid. The
nurse reviews the patient's orders and notes that an
interaction may occur if the corticosteroid is taken with which
of these drug classes?
a. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
b. Antibiotics
c. Opioid analgesics
d. Antidepressants
Correct Answer: a. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
, Rationale: The use of corticosteroids with aspirin, other NSAIDs,
and other ulcerogenic drugs produces additive gastrointestinal
effects and an increased chance for the development of gastric
ulcers.
5. A patient is taking fludrocortisone (Florinef®) for
Addison's disease. His wife is concerned about all the
problems that may occur with this therapy. Which is a true
statement about fludrocortisone therapy?
a. It may cause severe postural hypotension.
b. To minimize gastrointestinal upset, the medication should be
taken with food or milk.
c. The medication should be stopped immediately if nausea or
vomiting occurs.
d. Weight gain of 2.3 kg or more in 1 week is an expected adverse
effect.
Correct Answer: b. To minimize gastrointestinal upset, the
medication should be taken with food or milk.
6. A patient newly diagnosed with hypothyroidism received a
prescription for a thyroid drug. In addition to assessing for
hypersensitivity and myocardial infarction, for what should
the nurse also assess before administering the thyroid drug?
a. Infections
b. Diabetes mellitus
c. Lupus erythematosus
d. Adrenal insufficiency
Correct Answer: d. Adrenal insufficiency
Rationale: Thyroid hormones increase metabolic rate and can
precipitate acute adrenal crisis in patients with underlying adrenal
, insufficiency. Cortisol levels must be adequate before starting
thyroid replacement to avoid life-threatening complications.
7. A patient with hypothyroidism is given a prescription for
levothyroxine (Synthroid®). When the nurse explains that
levothyroxine is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone, the
patient states that a more natural form of drug would be
personally preferred. What is the nurse's best explanation to
the patient for the use of levothyroxine?
a. The synthetic form has a stronger effect than the natural forms.
b. Levothyroxine is less expensive than the natural forms.
c. The oral form has fewer adverse effects on the gastrointestinal
tract.
d. Because the half-life of levothyroxine is longer than that of the
natural forms, once-a-day dosing is possible.
Correct Answer: d. Because the half-life of levothyroxine is longer
than that of the natural forms, once-a-day dosing is possible.
Rationale: Levothyroxine has a long half-life (approximately 7
days) and its effects are more predictable than natural forms,
allowing for once-daily dosing.
8. Which condition may be caused by low levels of thyroid
hormone in youth?
a. Goiter
b. Myxedema
c. Cretinism
d. Addison's disease
Correct Answer: c. Cretinism
