Thyroid & Parathyroid; Adrenal & Pituitary Exam
Questions and answers
A health care provider writes orders addressing the needs of a client with Addison disease. Which
outcome does the nurse conclude is the main focus of treatment for this client?
a. Decrease in eosinophils
b. Increase in lymphoid tissue
c. Restoration of electrolyte balance
d. Improvement of carbohydrate metabolism - ✅✅c. Restoration of electrolyte balance
In SIADH, as a result of water retention from excess ADH, which laboratory value does the nurse expect
to find? SATA
a. Increased sodium in urine
b. Elevated serum sodium level
c. Increased urine specific gravity
d. Decreased serum osmolarity
e. Decreased urine specific gravity
f. Decreased serum sodium level - ✅✅a. Increased sodium in urine
c. Increased urine specific gravity
d. Decreased serum osmolarity
f. Decreased serum sodium level
The nurse is performing a physical examination of a patient's thyroid gland. Precautions are taken in
performing the correct technique because palpation can result in which occurrence?
a. Damage to the esophagus causing gastric reflux
b. Obstruction of the carotid arteries causing a stroke
c. Pressure on the trachea and laryngeal nerve causing hoarsness
d. Exacerbation of symptoms by releasing additional thyroid hormone - ✅✅d. Exacerbation of
symptoms by releasing additional thyroid hormone
,The nurse assesses a patient in the emergency department and finds the following: constipation, fatigue
with increased sleeping time, impaired memory, facial puffiness, and weight gain. Which deficiency does
the nurse recognize?
a. Hyperthyroidism
b. Hypothyroidism
c. Hyperparathyroidism
d. Hypoparathyroidism - ✅✅b. Hypothyroidism
Which factor is a key assessment finding that signifies hypothyroidism?
a. Irritability
b. Cold intolerance
c. Diarrhea
d. Fatigue - ✅✅b. Cold intolerance
Which laboratory result is consistent with a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism?
a. Decreased serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels
b. Elevated serum thyrotropin-releasing hormone level
c. Decreased radioactive iodine uptake
d. Increased serum T3 and T4 - ✅✅d. Increased serum T3 and T4
The clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism are known as which condition?
a. Thyrotoxicosis
b. Euthyroid function
c. Graves' disease
d. Hypermetabolism - ✅✅a. Thyrotoxicosis
The nurse assessing a patient palpates enlargement of the thyroid gland, along with noticeable swelling
of the neck. How does the nurse interpret this finding?
a. Globe lag
b. Myxedema
,c. Exophthalmos
d. Goiter - ✅✅d. Goiter
Which statement best describes globe lag in a patient with hyperthyroidism?
a. Abnormal protrusion of the eyes
b. Upper eyelid fails to descend when the patient gazes downward
c. Upper eyelid pulls back faster than the eyeball when the patient gazes upward
d. Inability of both eyes to focus on an object simultaneously - ✅✅c. Upper eyelid pulls back faster
than the eyeball when the patient gazes upward
Which statements about hyperthyroidism are accurate? SATA
a. It is most commonly caused by Graves' disease
b. It can be caused by overuse of thyroid replacement medication
c. It occurs more often in men between the ages of 20-40
d. Weight gain is a common manifestation
e. Serum T3 and T4 results will be elevated
f. There may be an increase in number of bowel movements per day - ✅✅a. It is most commonly
caused by Graves' disease
b. It can be caused by overuse of thyroid replacement medication
e. Serum T3 and T4 results will be elevated
f. There may be an increase in number of bowel movements per day
The nurse is providing instructions to a patient who is taking the antithyroid medication propylthiouracil
(PTU). The nurse instructs the patient to notify the health care provider immediately if which
sign/symptom occurs?
a. Weight gain
b. Dark-colored urine
c. Cold intolerance
d. Headache - ✅✅b. Dark-colored urine
, A patient who has been diagnosed with Graves' disease is to receive radioactive iodine (RAI) in the oral
form of 131I. What does the nurse teach the patient about how this drug works?
a. It destroys the hormones T3 and T4
b. It destroys the tissue that produces thyroid hormones
c. It blocks thyroid hormone production
d. It prevents T4 from being converted to T3 - ✅✅b. It destroys the tissue that produces thyroid
hormones
Which statements about hypothyroidism are accurate? SATA
a. It occurs more often in women
b. It can be caused by iodine deficiency
c. Weight loss is a common manifestation
d. It can be caused by autoimmune thyroid destruction
e. Myxedema coma is a rare but serious complication
f. Symptoms are the result of high levels of metabolism - ✅✅a. It occurs more often in women
b. It can be caused by iodine deficiency
d. It can be caused by autoimmune thyroid destruction
e. Myxedema coma is a rare but serious complication
Laboratory findings of elevated T3 and T4, decreased TSH, and high thyrotropin receptor antibody titer
indicate which condition?
a. Multinodular goiter
b. Hyperthyroidism related to overmedication
c. Pituitary tumor suppressing TSH
d. Graves' disease - ✅✅d. Graves' disease
After a visit to the health care provider's office, a patient is diagnosed with general thyroid enlargement
and elevated thyroid hormone level. Which condition do these findings indicate?
a. Hyperthyroidism and goiter
b. Hypothyroidism and goiter
Questions and answers
A health care provider writes orders addressing the needs of a client with Addison disease. Which
outcome does the nurse conclude is the main focus of treatment for this client?
a. Decrease in eosinophils
b. Increase in lymphoid tissue
c. Restoration of electrolyte balance
d. Improvement of carbohydrate metabolism - ✅✅c. Restoration of electrolyte balance
In SIADH, as a result of water retention from excess ADH, which laboratory value does the nurse expect
to find? SATA
a. Increased sodium in urine
b. Elevated serum sodium level
c. Increased urine specific gravity
d. Decreased serum osmolarity
e. Decreased urine specific gravity
f. Decreased serum sodium level - ✅✅a. Increased sodium in urine
c. Increased urine specific gravity
d. Decreased serum osmolarity
f. Decreased serum sodium level
The nurse is performing a physical examination of a patient's thyroid gland. Precautions are taken in
performing the correct technique because palpation can result in which occurrence?
a. Damage to the esophagus causing gastric reflux
b. Obstruction of the carotid arteries causing a stroke
c. Pressure on the trachea and laryngeal nerve causing hoarsness
d. Exacerbation of symptoms by releasing additional thyroid hormone - ✅✅d. Exacerbation of
symptoms by releasing additional thyroid hormone
,The nurse assesses a patient in the emergency department and finds the following: constipation, fatigue
with increased sleeping time, impaired memory, facial puffiness, and weight gain. Which deficiency does
the nurse recognize?
a. Hyperthyroidism
b. Hypothyroidism
c. Hyperparathyroidism
d. Hypoparathyroidism - ✅✅b. Hypothyroidism
Which factor is a key assessment finding that signifies hypothyroidism?
a. Irritability
b. Cold intolerance
c. Diarrhea
d. Fatigue - ✅✅b. Cold intolerance
Which laboratory result is consistent with a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism?
a. Decreased serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels
b. Elevated serum thyrotropin-releasing hormone level
c. Decreased radioactive iodine uptake
d. Increased serum T3 and T4 - ✅✅d. Increased serum T3 and T4
The clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism are known as which condition?
a. Thyrotoxicosis
b. Euthyroid function
c. Graves' disease
d. Hypermetabolism - ✅✅a. Thyrotoxicosis
The nurse assessing a patient palpates enlargement of the thyroid gland, along with noticeable swelling
of the neck. How does the nurse interpret this finding?
a. Globe lag
b. Myxedema
,c. Exophthalmos
d. Goiter - ✅✅d. Goiter
Which statement best describes globe lag in a patient with hyperthyroidism?
a. Abnormal protrusion of the eyes
b. Upper eyelid fails to descend when the patient gazes downward
c. Upper eyelid pulls back faster than the eyeball when the patient gazes upward
d. Inability of both eyes to focus on an object simultaneously - ✅✅c. Upper eyelid pulls back faster
than the eyeball when the patient gazes upward
Which statements about hyperthyroidism are accurate? SATA
a. It is most commonly caused by Graves' disease
b. It can be caused by overuse of thyroid replacement medication
c. It occurs more often in men between the ages of 20-40
d. Weight gain is a common manifestation
e. Serum T3 and T4 results will be elevated
f. There may be an increase in number of bowel movements per day - ✅✅a. It is most commonly
caused by Graves' disease
b. It can be caused by overuse of thyroid replacement medication
e. Serum T3 and T4 results will be elevated
f. There may be an increase in number of bowel movements per day
The nurse is providing instructions to a patient who is taking the antithyroid medication propylthiouracil
(PTU). The nurse instructs the patient to notify the health care provider immediately if which
sign/symptom occurs?
a. Weight gain
b. Dark-colored urine
c. Cold intolerance
d. Headache - ✅✅b. Dark-colored urine
, A patient who has been diagnosed with Graves' disease is to receive radioactive iodine (RAI) in the oral
form of 131I. What does the nurse teach the patient about how this drug works?
a. It destroys the hormones T3 and T4
b. It destroys the tissue that produces thyroid hormones
c. It blocks thyroid hormone production
d. It prevents T4 from being converted to T3 - ✅✅b. It destroys the tissue that produces thyroid
hormones
Which statements about hypothyroidism are accurate? SATA
a. It occurs more often in women
b. It can be caused by iodine deficiency
c. Weight loss is a common manifestation
d. It can be caused by autoimmune thyroid destruction
e. Myxedema coma is a rare but serious complication
f. Symptoms are the result of high levels of metabolism - ✅✅a. It occurs more often in women
b. It can be caused by iodine deficiency
d. It can be caused by autoimmune thyroid destruction
e. Myxedema coma is a rare but serious complication
Laboratory findings of elevated T3 and T4, decreased TSH, and high thyrotropin receptor antibody titer
indicate which condition?
a. Multinodular goiter
b. Hyperthyroidism related to overmedication
c. Pituitary tumor suppressing TSH
d. Graves' disease - ✅✅d. Graves' disease
After a visit to the health care provider's office, a patient is diagnosed with general thyroid enlargement
and elevated thyroid hormone level. Which condition do these findings indicate?
a. Hyperthyroidism and goiter
b. Hypothyroidism and goiter
