NCLEX-Style Questions: Endocrine Management
1. Which hormone is primarily responsible for regulating blood glucose levels?
a) Cortisol
b) Insulin
c) Thyroxine
d) Estrogen
Answer: b) Insulin
Rationale: Insulin is the primary hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood
glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells.
2. A patient with hypothyroidism is being treated with levothyroxine. What is the most
important nursing intervention?
a) Monitor blood pressure regularly
b) Educate the patient about the signs of hyperthyroidism
c) Assess the patient's weight weekly
d) Schedule the medication to be taken at night
Answer: b) Educate the patient about the signs of hyperthyroidism
Rationale: Patients on levothyroxine need to be educated about the signs of hyperthyroidism due
to the risk of over-treatment.
3. Which of the following lab values would be expected in a patient diagnosed with
Cushing’s syndrome?
a) Hyperkalemia
b) Hypoglycemia
c) Hypernatremia
d) Hypocalcemia
Answer: c) Hypernatremia
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by excess cortisol, leading to increased sodium
retention and consequently hypernatremia.
4. A patient with diabetes mellitus is experiencing hypoglycemia. Which of the following is
the most appropriate immediate action?
,a) Administer glucagon
b) Give a high-protein snack
c) Offer fruit juice
d) Reassess the blood glucose in one hour
Answer: c) Offer fruit juice
Rationale: Offering fruit juice provides quick sugar that can rapidly increase blood glucose
levels.
5. What is a common complication of untreated hyperthyroidism?
a) Myxedema coma
b) Cardiomyopathy
c) Addisonian crisis
d) Diabetic ketoacidosis
Answer: b) Cardiomyopathy
Rationale: Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to increased workload on the heart, potentially
resulting in cardiomyopathy.
6. A patient diagnosed with Addison’s disease should be monitored for which of the
following signs?
a) Weight gain
b) Hypotension
c) Hyperglycemia
d) Increased energy levels
Answer: b) Hypotension
Rationale: Addison’s disease can cause adrenal insufficiency, leading to decreased cortisol
levels and hypotension.
7. Which of the following is the priority assessment for a patient receiving steroid therapy?
a) Assessing skin integrity
b) Monitoring blood glucose levels
c) Evaluating for signs of infection
d) Checking for weight gain
, Answer: c) Evaluating for signs of infection
Rationale: Steroid therapy can suppress the immune system, increasing the risk of infection,
making this the priority assessment.
8. A nurse is educating a patient with type 1 diabetes about the administration of insulin.
What is the best explanation for the importance of rotating injection sites?
a) It reduces the chance of developing an allergy.
b) It prevents lipodystrophy.
c) It ensures consistent absorption of insulin.
d) It minimizes discomfort during injection.
Answer: b) It prevents lipodystrophy.
Rationale: Rotating injection sites helps prevent lipodystrophy, which can affect insulin
absorption.
9. A patient with hyperparathyroidism is at risk for which of the following complications?
a) Osteoporosis
b) Anemia
c) Hypoglycemia
d) Hyperkalemia
Answer: a) Osteoporosis
Rationale: Hyperparathyroidism leads to increased calcium release from bones, increasing the
risk of osteoporosis.
10. The nurse is caring for a patient with acromegaly. What assessment finding would the
nurse expect?
a) Decreased height
b) Enlargement of the hands and feet
c) Hypoglycemia
d) Bradycardia
Answer: b) Enlargement of the hands and feet
Rationale: Acromegaly is caused by excess growth hormone, leading to enlargement of
extremities.
1. Which hormone is primarily responsible for regulating blood glucose levels?
a) Cortisol
b) Insulin
c) Thyroxine
d) Estrogen
Answer: b) Insulin
Rationale: Insulin is the primary hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood
glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells.
2. A patient with hypothyroidism is being treated with levothyroxine. What is the most
important nursing intervention?
a) Monitor blood pressure regularly
b) Educate the patient about the signs of hyperthyroidism
c) Assess the patient's weight weekly
d) Schedule the medication to be taken at night
Answer: b) Educate the patient about the signs of hyperthyroidism
Rationale: Patients on levothyroxine need to be educated about the signs of hyperthyroidism due
to the risk of over-treatment.
3. Which of the following lab values would be expected in a patient diagnosed with
Cushing’s syndrome?
a) Hyperkalemia
b) Hypoglycemia
c) Hypernatremia
d) Hypocalcemia
Answer: c) Hypernatremia
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome is characterized by excess cortisol, leading to increased sodium
retention and consequently hypernatremia.
4. A patient with diabetes mellitus is experiencing hypoglycemia. Which of the following is
the most appropriate immediate action?
,a) Administer glucagon
b) Give a high-protein snack
c) Offer fruit juice
d) Reassess the blood glucose in one hour
Answer: c) Offer fruit juice
Rationale: Offering fruit juice provides quick sugar that can rapidly increase blood glucose
levels.
5. What is a common complication of untreated hyperthyroidism?
a) Myxedema coma
b) Cardiomyopathy
c) Addisonian crisis
d) Diabetic ketoacidosis
Answer: b) Cardiomyopathy
Rationale: Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to increased workload on the heart, potentially
resulting in cardiomyopathy.
6. A patient diagnosed with Addison’s disease should be monitored for which of the
following signs?
a) Weight gain
b) Hypotension
c) Hyperglycemia
d) Increased energy levels
Answer: b) Hypotension
Rationale: Addison’s disease can cause adrenal insufficiency, leading to decreased cortisol
levels and hypotension.
7. Which of the following is the priority assessment for a patient receiving steroid therapy?
a) Assessing skin integrity
b) Monitoring blood glucose levels
c) Evaluating for signs of infection
d) Checking for weight gain
, Answer: c) Evaluating for signs of infection
Rationale: Steroid therapy can suppress the immune system, increasing the risk of infection,
making this the priority assessment.
8. A nurse is educating a patient with type 1 diabetes about the administration of insulin.
What is the best explanation for the importance of rotating injection sites?
a) It reduces the chance of developing an allergy.
b) It prevents lipodystrophy.
c) It ensures consistent absorption of insulin.
d) It minimizes discomfort during injection.
Answer: b) It prevents lipodystrophy.
Rationale: Rotating injection sites helps prevent lipodystrophy, which can affect insulin
absorption.
9. A patient with hyperparathyroidism is at risk for which of the following complications?
a) Osteoporosis
b) Anemia
c) Hypoglycemia
d) Hyperkalemia
Answer: a) Osteoporosis
Rationale: Hyperparathyroidism leads to increased calcium release from bones, increasing the
risk of osteoporosis.
10. The nurse is caring for a patient with acromegaly. What assessment finding would the
nurse expect?
a) Decreased height
b) Enlargement of the hands and feet
c) Hypoglycemia
d) Bradycardia
Answer: b) Enlargement of the hands and feet
Rationale: Acromegaly is caused by excess growth hormone, leading to enlargement of
extremities.
