Chapter 23 Pituitary and Thyroid
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. 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 childs 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.
DIF COGNITIVE LEVEL Understanding (Comprehension) REF dm 743
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MSC NCLEX Physiological Integrity Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
2. 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.
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NURSING PROCESS Assessment/Evaluation
MSC NCLEX Physiological Integrity Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
3. 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.
DIF COGNITIVE LEVEL Understanding (Comprehension) REF dm 743
, TOP NURSING PROCESS Nursing Intervention Patient Teaching
MSC NCLEX Physiological Integrity Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
4. 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
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.
DIF COGNITIVE LEVEL Remembering (Knowledge) REF dm 743
TOP NURSING PROCESS Planning
MSC NCLEX Physiological Integrity Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
5. A child exhibits acromegaly caused by a tumor that cannot be destroyed with radiation.
Which medication will most likely be used to treat this child? a. Bromocriptine mesylate
(Parlodel)
b. Octreotide acetate (Sandostatin)
c. Somatrem (Protropin)
d. Somatropin (Genotropin)
ANS A
Bromocriptine is a prolactin-release inhibitor and is used to inhibit release of growth hormone
from the pituitary gland if the tumor cannot be destroyed by radiation. Octreotide may be used
as well, but it is expensive and is typically used as adjunct therapy to radiation. Somatrem and
somatropin are used to treat growth hormone deficiency and would make acromegaly worse.
DIF COGNITIVE LEVEL Understanding (Comprehension) REF dm 743
TOP NURSING PROCESS Nursing Intervention
MSC NCLEX Physiological Integrity Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. 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.
DIF COGNITIVE LEVEL Applying (Application) REF dm 743
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. 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 childs 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.
DIF COGNITIVE LEVEL Understanding (Comprehension) REF dm 743
TOP NURSING PROCESS Nursing Intervention Patient Teaching
MSC NCLEX Physiological Integrity Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
2. 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.
DIF COGNITIVE LEVEL Applying (Application) REF dm 743 TOP
NURSING PROCESS Assessment/Evaluation
MSC NCLEX Physiological Integrity Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
3. 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.
DIF COGNITIVE LEVEL Understanding (Comprehension) REF dm 743
, TOP NURSING PROCESS Nursing Intervention Patient Teaching
MSC NCLEX Physiological Integrity Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
4. 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
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.
DIF COGNITIVE LEVEL Remembering (Knowledge) REF dm 743
TOP NURSING PROCESS Planning
MSC NCLEX Physiological Integrity Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
5. A child exhibits acromegaly caused by a tumor that cannot be destroyed with radiation.
Which medication will most likely be used to treat this child? a. Bromocriptine mesylate
(Parlodel)
b. Octreotide acetate (Sandostatin)
c. Somatrem (Protropin)
d. Somatropin (Genotropin)
ANS A
Bromocriptine is a prolactin-release inhibitor and is used to inhibit release of growth hormone
from the pituitary gland if the tumor cannot be destroyed by radiation. Octreotide may be used
as well, but it is expensive and is typically used as adjunct therapy to radiation. Somatrem and
somatropin are used to treat growth hormone deficiency and would make acromegaly worse.
DIF COGNITIVE LEVEL Understanding (Comprehension) REF dm 743
TOP NURSING PROCESS Nursing Intervention
MSC NCLEX Physiological Integrity Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
6. 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.
DIF COGNITIVE LEVEL Applying (Application) REF dm 743
