ATI THYROID & PARATHYROID CARE Exam
Question and Answers Latest Updates
2026 Top Rated A+
1. Question: A nurse assesses a client who is recovering from a subtotal
thyroidectomy. On the second postoperative day, the client states, "I
feel numbness and tingling around my mouth." What action should the
nurse take?
Options:
a) Offer mouth care.
b) Loosen the dressing.
c) Assess for Chvostek's sign.
d) Ask the client orientation questions.
Answer: c) Assess for Chvostek's sign.
Explanation: Numbness and tingling around the mouth or in the
fingers and toes are classic manifestations of hypocalcemia, which can
occur post-thyroidectomy due to inadvertent damage or removal of the
parathyroid glands during surgery. This hypocalcemia may progress to
tetany or seizures if untreated. Assessing for Chvostek's sign (facial
muscle twitching when tapping the facial nerve) helps confirm
hypocalcemia, after which the nurse should notify the provider for
potential IV calcium replacement, such as calcium gluconate. Offering
mouth care or loosening the dressing does not address the underlying
electrolyte imbalance. Orientation questions might assess for confusion
but are not specific to hypocalcemia.
,2. Question: A nurse assesses a client on the medical-surgical unit.
Which statement made by the client should alert the nurse to the
possibility of hypothyroidism?
Options:
a) "My sister has thyroid problems."
b) "I seem to feel the heat more than other people."
c) "Food just doesn't taste good without a lot of salt."
d) "I am always tired, even with 12 hours of sleep."
Answer: d) "I am always tired, even with 12 hours of sleep."
Explanation: Hypothyroidism slows metabolic processes, leading to
profound fatigue and lethargy despite adequate rest, as the body lacks
sufficient thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) to maintain energy levels. This
symptom often prompts clients to seek care. Family history of thyroid
issues may increase risk but is not a direct symptom. Heat intolerance
indicates hyperthyroidism due to increased metabolism. Loss of taste is
not typically associated with hypothyroidism, though it may occur in
other conditions like zinc deficiency.
3. Question: A nurse cares for a client who has hypothyroidism as a
result of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The client asks, "How long will I need
to take this thyroid medication?" How should the nurse respond?
Options:
, a) "You will need to take the thyroid medication until the goiter is
completely gone."
b) "Thyroiditis is cured with antibiotics. Then you won't need thyroid
medication."
c) "You'll need thyroid pills for life because your thyroid won't start
working again."
d) "When blood tests indicate normal thyroid function, you can stop
the medication."
Answer: c) "You'll need thyroid pills for life because your thyroid won't
start working again."
Explanation: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition
causing chronic inflammation and progressive destruction of thyroid
tissue, leading to permanent hypothyroidism. Lifelong hormone
replacement with levothyroxine is required to maintain euthyroid
status, as the gland does not regenerate. Antibiotics do not cure
autoimmune thyroiditis, and stopping medication once labs normalize
would lead to recurrence of symptoms. Goiter resolution does not
indicate functional recovery.
4. Question: The nurse reviews the vital signs of a client diagnosed with
Graves' disease and sees that the client's temperature is up to 99.6° F.
After notifying the health care provider, what does the nurse do next?
Options:
a) Administers acetaminophen.
b) Alerts the Rapid Response Team.
, c) Asks any visitors to leave.
d) Assesses the client's cardiac status completely.
Answer: d) Assesses the client's cardiac status completely.
Explanation: Even a slight temperature elevation (e.g., 1° F) in Graves'
disease can signal impending thyroid storm, a life-threatening
hypermetabolic state with increased sympathetic nervous system
activation. Immediate cardiac assessment, including monitoring for
tachycardia, hypertension, and dysrhythmias, is critical due to the risk
of cardiovascular collapse. Acetaminophen may help with fever but is
not the priority over cardiac evaluation. The Rapid Response Team is
not immediately needed unless symptoms escalate. Asking visitors to
leave may reduce stimuli but is secondary to vital sign assessment.
5. Question: A client with hyperthyroidism is prescribed propylthiouracil
(PTU). The nurse will monitor the client for which adverse effect?
Options:
a) Increased appetite and weight gain.
b) Bradycardia and hypotension.
c) Fever and sore throat.
d) Insomnia and restlessness.
Answer: c) Fever and sore throat.
Explanation: PTU, an antithyroid drug, can cause agranulocytosis
(severe neutropenia), increasing infection risk. Fever and sore throat are
early signs of this potentially life-threatening adverse reaction, requiring
Question and Answers Latest Updates
2026 Top Rated A+
1. Question: A nurse assesses a client who is recovering from a subtotal
thyroidectomy. On the second postoperative day, the client states, "I
feel numbness and tingling around my mouth." What action should the
nurse take?
Options:
a) Offer mouth care.
b) Loosen the dressing.
c) Assess for Chvostek's sign.
d) Ask the client orientation questions.
Answer: c) Assess for Chvostek's sign.
Explanation: Numbness and tingling around the mouth or in the
fingers and toes are classic manifestations of hypocalcemia, which can
occur post-thyroidectomy due to inadvertent damage or removal of the
parathyroid glands during surgery. This hypocalcemia may progress to
tetany or seizures if untreated. Assessing for Chvostek's sign (facial
muscle twitching when tapping the facial nerve) helps confirm
hypocalcemia, after which the nurse should notify the provider for
potential IV calcium replacement, such as calcium gluconate. Offering
mouth care or loosening the dressing does not address the underlying
electrolyte imbalance. Orientation questions might assess for confusion
but are not specific to hypocalcemia.
,2. Question: A nurse assesses a client on the medical-surgical unit.
Which statement made by the client should alert the nurse to the
possibility of hypothyroidism?
Options:
a) "My sister has thyroid problems."
b) "I seem to feel the heat more than other people."
c) "Food just doesn't taste good without a lot of salt."
d) "I am always tired, even with 12 hours of sleep."
Answer: d) "I am always tired, even with 12 hours of sleep."
Explanation: Hypothyroidism slows metabolic processes, leading to
profound fatigue and lethargy despite adequate rest, as the body lacks
sufficient thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) to maintain energy levels. This
symptom often prompts clients to seek care. Family history of thyroid
issues may increase risk but is not a direct symptom. Heat intolerance
indicates hyperthyroidism due to increased metabolism. Loss of taste is
not typically associated with hypothyroidism, though it may occur in
other conditions like zinc deficiency.
3. Question: A nurse cares for a client who has hypothyroidism as a
result of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The client asks, "How long will I need
to take this thyroid medication?" How should the nurse respond?
Options:
, a) "You will need to take the thyroid medication until the goiter is
completely gone."
b) "Thyroiditis is cured with antibiotics. Then you won't need thyroid
medication."
c) "You'll need thyroid pills for life because your thyroid won't start
working again."
d) "When blood tests indicate normal thyroid function, you can stop
the medication."
Answer: c) "You'll need thyroid pills for life because your thyroid won't
start working again."
Explanation: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition
causing chronic inflammation and progressive destruction of thyroid
tissue, leading to permanent hypothyroidism. Lifelong hormone
replacement with levothyroxine is required to maintain euthyroid
status, as the gland does not regenerate. Antibiotics do not cure
autoimmune thyroiditis, and stopping medication once labs normalize
would lead to recurrence of symptoms. Goiter resolution does not
indicate functional recovery.
4. Question: The nurse reviews the vital signs of a client diagnosed with
Graves' disease and sees that the client's temperature is up to 99.6° F.
After notifying the health care provider, what does the nurse do next?
Options:
a) Administers acetaminophen.
b) Alerts the Rapid Response Team.
, c) Asks any visitors to leave.
d) Assesses the client's cardiac status completely.
Answer: d) Assesses the client's cardiac status completely.
Explanation: Even a slight temperature elevation (e.g., 1° F) in Graves'
disease can signal impending thyroid storm, a life-threatening
hypermetabolic state with increased sympathetic nervous system
activation. Immediate cardiac assessment, including monitoring for
tachycardia, hypertension, and dysrhythmias, is critical due to the risk
of cardiovascular collapse. Acetaminophen may help with fever but is
not the priority over cardiac evaluation. The Rapid Response Team is
not immediately needed unless symptoms escalate. Asking visitors to
leave may reduce stimuli but is secondary to vital sign assessment.
5. Question: A client with hyperthyroidism is prescribed propylthiouracil
(PTU). The nurse will monitor the client for which adverse effect?
Options:
a) Increased appetite and weight gain.
b) Bradycardia and hypotension.
c) Fever and sore throat.
d) Insomnia and restlessness.
Answer: c) Fever and sore throat.
Explanation: PTU, an antithyroid drug, can cause agranulocytosis
(severe neutropenia), increasing infection risk. Fever and sore throat are
early signs of this potentially life-threatening adverse reaction, requiring
