A SSESSMENT AND D IAGNOSTIC P ROCEDURES
Urden: Priorities in Critical Care Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient is reporting a headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, and blurred
vision. The nurse knows that these signs may indicate the patient has
what problem?
a. Hypothyroidism
b. Pituitary tumor
c. Cushing syndrome
d. Hypergl ycemia
ANS: D
Because severe hypergl ycemia affects a variet y of body systems, all
s ystems are assessed. The patient may complain of blurred vision,
headache, weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, anorexia, nausea, and
abdominal pain.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal yzing OBJ: Nursing
Process Step: Assessment TOP: Endocrine Clinical
Assessment and Diagnostic Procedures MSC: NC LEX:
Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
, 2. A patient has been admitted with abdominal pain. The patient’s fastin g
blood glucose is 120 mg/dL. Which statement regarding this finding is
accurate?
a. This is a normal finding in criticall y patients.
b. This finding is indicative of prediabetes.
c. This finding is indicative of diabetes.
d. This finding is indicative of diabetic ke toacidosis.
ANS: B
A normal fasting glucose (FPG) level is between 70 and 100 mg/dL. An
FPG level between 100 and 125 mg/dL identifies a person who is
prediabetic. An FPG level greater than 126 mg/dL is diagnostic of
diabetes. In nonurgent settings, the test is repeated on another day to
make sure the result is accurate.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying OBJ: Nursing
Process Step: Diagnosis TOP: Endocrine Clinical
Assessment and Diagnostic Procedures MSC: NC LEX:
Physiological Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential
3. A nurse is teaching a patient with diabetes mellitus. The patient asks the
nurse what is an acceptable HbA1c level for him. What should the nurse
tell the patient?
a. “An acceptable level is less than 5.4%.”
b. “An acceptable level is less than 6.5%.”
c. “An acceptable level is determined by your practitioner.”
d. “It is dependent on your age.”
ANS: B