Chapter 49: Pituitary, Thyroid,
Parathyroid, and Adrenal Disorders
McCuistion: Pharmacology: A
Patient-Centered Nursing Process
Approach, 11th Edition
A 35-year-old woman reports lethargy, difficulty remembering things, facial edema, dry skin,
and cessation of menses. The nurse notes a heart rate of 60 beats per minute and a weight
increase of 5 pounds from a previous visit. The nurse suspects the patient will be diagnosed
with which of the following?
a. Cretinism
b. Early menopause
c. Hyperthyroidism
d. Myxedema - ANS-ANS: D
Myxedema is severe hypothyroidism characterized by this woman's symptoms. Cretinism is
congenital hypothyroidism. Early menopause is not characterized by memory loss, facial
edema, dry skin, or bradycardia. Hyperthyroidism would include tachycardia and weight loss.
\A patient is receiving a glucocorticoid medication to treat an inflammatory condition, and the
provider has ordered a slow taper to discontinue this medication. The nurse explains to the
patient that this is done to prevent which condition?
a. Acromegaly
b. Adrenocortical insufficiency
c. Hypertensive crisis
d. Thyroid storm - ANS-ANS: B
Patients receiving glucocorticoids stop making their own cortisol. These drugs should be
tapered slowly to allow the body to resume making this hormone. Acromegaly is associated
with growth hormone hypersecretion. Hypertensive crisis and thyroid storm are associated
with thyroid replacement.
\A patient is taking prednisolone and fludrocortisone. When teaching this patient about
dietary intake, the nurse will instruct the patient to consume a diet that is
a. high in carbohydrates.
b. high in fat.
c. high in protein.
d. low in potassium. - ANS-ANS: C
Parathyroid, and Adrenal Disorders
McCuistion: Pharmacology: A
Patient-Centered Nursing Process
Approach, 11th Edition
A 35-year-old woman reports lethargy, difficulty remembering things, facial edema, dry skin,
and cessation of menses. The nurse notes a heart rate of 60 beats per minute and a weight
increase of 5 pounds from a previous visit. The nurse suspects the patient will be diagnosed
with which of the following?
a. Cretinism
b. Early menopause
c. Hyperthyroidism
d. Myxedema - ANS-ANS: D
Myxedema is severe hypothyroidism characterized by this woman's symptoms. Cretinism is
congenital hypothyroidism. Early menopause is not characterized by memory loss, facial
edema, dry skin, or bradycardia. Hyperthyroidism would include tachycardia and weight loss.
\A patient is receiving a glucocorticoid medication to treat an inflammatory condition, and the
provider has ordered a slow taper to discontinue this medication. The nurse explains to the
patient that this is done to prevent which condition?
a. Acromegaly
b. Adrenocortical insufficiency
c. Hypertensive crisis
d. Thyroid storm - ANS-ANS: B
Patients receiving glucocorticoids stop making their own cortisol. These drugs should be
tapered slowly to allow the body to resume making this hormone. Acromegaly is associated
with growth hormone hypersecretion. Hypertensive crisis and thyroid storm are associated
with thyroid replacement.
\A patient is taking prednisolone and fludrocortisone. When teaching this patient about
dietary intake, the nurse will instruct the patient to consume a diet that is
a. high in carbohydrates.
b. high in fat.
c. high in protein.
d. low in potassium. - ANS-ANS: C
