Deck 48: Nursing Assessment: Endocrine System

Question 1

A patient is scheduled for a growth hormone stimulation test. In preparation for the test, the nurse will obtain a

A) vial of 50% dextrose solution.
B) vial of glargine insulin.
C) cardiac monitor.
D) basin of ice.

Answer 1

vial of 50% dextrose solution.

Question 2

A patient is scheduled for a 24-hour urine collection for 17-ketosteroids. The nurse will plan to

A) insert a retention catheter.
B) keep the specimen on ice.
C) have the patient void and save that specimen to start the collection.
D) encourage the patient to drink 2 to 3 L of fluid during the 24 hours.

Answer 2

keep the specimen on ice.

Question 3

When the nurse is describing the effects of insulin on the body to a patient newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, the best explanation is,

A) "Insulin helps keep your blood sugar levels from dropping too low."
B) "Insulin promotes the cellular transport and storage of foods you eat."
C) "Insulin breaks down foods into simple sugars you can use for energy."
D) "Insulin is used inside the cells to transform fats and proteins into sugar."

Answer 3

"Insulin promotes the cellular transport and storage of foods you eat."

Question 4

When caring for a patient having a water deprivation test, which assessment obtained by the nurse will be of most concern?

A) The patient complains of intense thirst.
B) The patient has a 5-lb weight loss.
C) The patient feels dizzy when sitting up on the edge of the bed.
D) The patient's urine osmolality does not change after ADH is given.

Question 5

When a patient is taking spironolactone (Aldactone), a drug that blocks the action of aldosterone on the kidney, the nurse will monitor for

A) decreased urinary output.
B) increased serum sodium levels.
C) evidence of fluid overload.
D) elevated serum potassium levels.

Question 6

When evaluating the laboratory findings of a patient with increased secretion of the anterior pituitary hormones, the nurse would expect to find

A) an increase in urinary free cortisol.
B) decreased serum thyroxine levels.
C) elevated serum aldosterone levels.
D) low urinary excretion of catecholamines.

Question 7

When working with a patient who has diabetes mellitus, the nurse reviews the results of testing for glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1C) to evaluate for

A) glucose levels 2 hours after a meal.
B) glucose control over the past 3 months.
C) circulating, nonfasting glucose levels.
D) hypoglycemic episodes in the past 90 days.

Question 8

When caring for a patient who has just had a parathyroidectomy, the nurse will plan to monitor the patient for

A) low serum calcium level.
B) low magnesium level.
C) increased levels of active vitamin D.
D) increased levels of calcitonin.

Question 9

Which action taken by a nursing student when caring for patient with thyroiditis and a goiter requires that the nurse intervene immediately?

A) The student checks the blood pressure on both arms.
B) The student lowers the thermostat to decrease the temperature in the room.
C) The student palpates the neck to check thyroid size.
D) The student orders nonmedicated eye drops to lubricate the patient's eyes.

Question 10

When reviewing the laboratory results for a patient's total calcium level, which information will the nurse need to consider?

A) The serum albumin level is low.
B) The phosphate level is normal.
C) The blood glucose is elevated.
D) The total protein is decreased.

Question 11

A patient has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. During assessment of the patient's functional health patterns, the nurse recognizes that an ability to manage the many lifestyle changes associated with diabetes is best reflected by the patient's responses to questions related to

A) activity-exercise.
B) role-relationship.
C) nutritional-metabolic.
D) value-belief.

Question 12

The nurse will plan patient care that will decrease the patient's physical and emotional stress when the patient is undergoing

A) a water deprivation test.
B) testing for serum T3 and T4 levels.
C) a 24-hour urine test for free cortisol.
D) a radioactive iodine (I-131) uptake test.

Question 13

During assessment of a patient's functional health patterns, a question by the nurse that addresses thyroid function is,

A) "Do you have to get up at night to empty your bladder?"
B) "Have you experienced any blurring or double vision?"
C) "Do you experience fatigue even if you have slept a long time?"
D) "Can you describe the amount of stress you have at home and work?"

Question 14

During a physical examination, the nurse finds that a patient's thyroid gland cannot be palpated. The most appropriate action by the nurse is to

A) document that the thyroid was nonpalpable.
B) notify the health care provider about the finding.
C) teach the patient about the purpose of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) testing.
D) palpate the patient's neck more deeply.

Question 15

A patient has clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism. To determine whether the low thyroid level is caused by a problem with the anterior pituitary gland or with the thyroid gland, which value will the nurse check in the patient's chart?

A) Thyroxine (T₄) level
B) Triiodothyronine (T₃) level
C) Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) level
D) TSH level

Question 16

The health care provider has ordered a serum cortisol level to rule out adrenal dysfunction in a patient who works at night from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM and normally sleeps from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. To ensure the most reliable test results, the nurse arranges the blood specimen to be drawn

A) in the early morning.
B) in the late afternoon.
C) at 3:00 AM.
D) at 11:00 PM.

Question 17

When obtaining the health history, which statement by a patient indicates that the nurse should assess further for a possible problem with the thyroid gland?

A) "I have noticed difficulty in swallowing."
B) "I get up several times at night to urinate."
C) "I notice my breasts are tender lately."
D) "I drink about a gallon of water a day."

Question 18

A patient has a total serum calcium level of 13.3 mg/dl (6.7 mEq/L, 3.3 mmol/L). The nurse understands that this level of calcium normally

A) indicates hypothyroidism.
B) stimulates the secretion of calcitonin.
C) occurs when the parathyroid gland is surgically removed.
D) results from oversecretion of calcitonin from the thyroid gland.

Question 19

When a patient eats a bag of potato chips, the nurse recognizes that hypernatremia is likely to occur if the patient is experiencing a decreased production of

A) cortisol.
B) aldosterone.
C) pancreatic somatostatin.
D) antidiuretic hormone (ADH).