1|P age
NUR 265 EXAM 3 VERIFIED QUESTIONS & 100%
ACCURATE ANSWERS | COMPLETELY
UPDATED 2025–2026 EDITION A+
PERFORMANCE GUARANTEED
A young adult patient who is being seen in the clinic has excessive secretion of the
anterior pituitary hormones. Which laboratory test result would the nurse expect?
a. Increased urinary cortisol
b. Decreased serum thyroxine
c. Elevated serum aldosterone
d. Low urinary catecholamines - ANSWER: A
Increased secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by the anterior
pituitary gland will lead to an increase in serum and urinary cortisol levels. An
increase, rather than a decrease, in thyroxine level would be expected with
increased secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone
(TSH) by the anterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary does not control aldosterone
and catecholamine levels.
Which statement made by a 50-yr-old female patient indicates to the nurse that
further assessment of thyroid function may be needed?
a. "I am so thirsty that I drink all day long."
b. "I get up several times at night to urinate."
c. "I feel a lump in my throat when I swallow."
d. "I notice my breasts are always tender lately." - ANSWER: C
An enlarged thyroid gland can cause problems swallowing or a change in neck
size. Nocturia is associated with diseases such as diabetes, diabetes insipidus, or
chronic kidney disease.
,2|P age
Breast tenderness would occur with excessive gonadal hormone levels. Thirst is a
sign of disease such as diabetes.
A patient seen in the emergency department for severe headache and acute
confusion has a serum sodium level of 118 mEq/L. The nurse would anticipate the
need for which diagnostic test?
a. Urinary 17-ketosteroids
b. Antidiuretic hormone level
c. Growth hormone stimulation test
d. Adrenocorticotropic hormone level - ANSWER: B
Elevated levels of antidiuretic hormone will cause water retention and decrease
serum sodium levels. The other tests would not be helpful in determining the cause
of the patient's hyponatremia.
Which question from the nurse during a patient interview would provide focused
information about a possible thyroid disorder?
a. "What methods do you use to help cope with stress?"
b. "Have you experienced any blurring or double vision?"
c. "Have you had a recent unplanned weight gain or loss?"
d. "Do you have to get up at night to empty your bladder?" - ANSWER: C
Because thyroid function affects metabolic rate, changes in weight may indicate
hyperfunction or hypofunction of the thyroid gland. Nocturia, visual difficulty, and
changes in stress level are associated with other endocrine disorders.
,3|P age
A patient is scheduled in the outpatient clinic for blood cortisol testing. Which
instruction would the nurse provide?
a. "Avoid adding any salt to your foods for 24 hours before the test."
b. "You will need to lie down for 30 minutes before the blood is drawn."
c. "Come to the laboratory to have the blood drawn early in the morning."
d. "Do not have anything to eat or drink before the blood test is obtained." -
ANSWER: C
Cortisol levels are usually drawn in the morning, when levels are highest. The
other instructions would be given to patients who were having other endocrine
testing.
A patient admitted with pneumonia has a total serum calcium level of 13.3 mg/dL.
Which serum level would the nurse anticipate will be tested next?
a. Calcitonin
b. Catecholamine
c. Thyroid hormone
d. Parathyroid hormone - ANSWER: D
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the major controller of blood calcium levels.
Although calcitonin secretion is a counter mechanism to PTH, it does not play a
major role in calcium balance.
Catecholamine and thyroid hormone levels do not affect serum calcium level.
During the physical examination, the nurse cannot feel the patient's thyroid gland.
Which action would the nurse take?
a. Palpate the patient's neck more deeply.
b. Document that the thyroid was nonpalpable.
, 4|P age
c. Notify the health care provider immediately.
d. Teach the patient about thyroid hormone testing. - ANSWER: B
The thyroid is usually nonpalpable. The nurse would simply document the finding.
Deep palpation of the neck is not appropriate; do not press too hard or massage an
enlarged thyroid gland as this can cause a sudden release of thyroid hormone into
an already
overloaded system. There is no need to notify the health care provider immediately
about a normal finding. There is no indication for thyroid-stimulating hormone
(TSH) testing unless there is evidence of thyroid dysfunction.
Which laboratory value would the nurse review to determine whether a patient's
hypothyroidism is caused by a problem with the anterior pituitary gland?
a. Thyroxine (T4) level
b. Triiodothyronine (T3) level
c. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level
d. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) level - ANSWER: C
A low TSH level indicates that the patient's hypothyroidism is caused by decreased
anterior pituitary secretion of TSH. Low T3 and T4 levels are not diagnostic of the
primary cause of the hypothyroidism. TRH levels indicate the function of the
hypothalamus.
Which information will a patient's glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) result provide
to the nurse?
a. Fasting preprandial glucose levels
b. Glucose levels 2 hours after a meal
c. Glucose control over the past 90 days
d. Hypoglycemic episodes in the past 3 months - ANSWER: C
NUR 265 EXAM 3 VERIFIED QUESTIONS & 100%
ACCURATE ANSWERS | COMPLETELY
UPDATED 2025–2026 EDITION A+
PERFORMANCE GUARANTEED
A young adult patient who is being seen in the clinic has excessive secretion of the
anterior pituitary hormones. Which laboratory test result would the nurse expect?
a. Increased urinary cortisol
b. Decreased serum thyroxine
c. Elevated serum aldosterone
d. Low urinary catecholamines - ANSWER: A
Increased secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by the anterior
pituitary gland will lead to an increase in serum and urinary cortisol levels. An
increase, rather than a decrease, in thyroxine level would be expected with
increased secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone
(TSH) by the anterior pituitary. The anterior pituitary does not control aldosterone
and catecholamine levels.
Which statement made by a 50-yr-old female patient indicates to the nurse that
further assessment of thyroid function may be needed?
a. "I am so thirsty that I drink all day long."
b. "I get up several times at night to urinate."
c. "I feel a lump in my throat when I swallow."
d. "I notice my breasts are always tender lately." - ANSWER: C
An enlarged thyroid gland can cause problems swallowing or a change in neck
size. Nocturia is associated with diseases such as diabetes, diabetes insipidus, or
chronic kidney disease.
,2|P age
Breast tenderness would occur with excessive gonadal hormone levels. Thirst is a
sign of disease such as diabetes.
A patient seen in the emergency department for severe headache and acute
confusion has a serum sodium level of 118 mEq/L. The nurse would anticipate the
need for which diagnostic test?
a. Urinary 17-ketosteroids
b. Antidiuretic hormone level
c. Growth hormone stimulation test
d. Adrenocorticotropic hormone level - ANSWER: B
Elevated levels of antidiuretic hormone will cause water retention and decrease
serum sodium levels. The other tests would not be helpful in determining the cause
of the patient's hyponatremia.
Which question from the nurse during a patient interview would provide focused
information about a possible thyroid disorder?
a. "What methods do you use to help cope with stress?"
b. "Have you experienced any blurring or double vision?"
c. "Have you had a recent unplanned weight gain or loss?"
d. "Do you have to get up at night to empty your bladder?" - ANSWER: C
Because thyroid function affects metabolic rate, changes in weight may indicate
hyperfunction or hypofunction of the thyroid gland. Nocturia, visual difficulty, and
changes in stress level are associated with other endocrine disorders.
,3|P age
A patient is scheduled in the outpatient clinic for blood cortisol testing. Which
instruction would the nurse provide?
a. "Avoid adding any salt to your foods for 24 hours before the test."
b. "You will need to lie down for 30 minutes before the blood is drawn."
c. "Come to the laboratory to have the blood drawn early in the morning."
d. "Do not have anything to eat or drink before the blood test is obtained." -
ANSWER: C
Cortisol levels are usually drawn in the morning, when levels are highest. The
other instructions would be given to patients who were having other endocrine
testing.
A patient admitted with pneumonia has a total serum calcium level of 13.3 mg/dL.
Which serum level would the nurse anticipate will be tested next?
a. Calcitonin
b. Catecholamine
c. Thyroid hormone
d. Parathyroid hormone - ANSWER: D
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the major controller of blood calcium levels.
Although calcitonin secretion is a counter mechanism to PTH, it does not play a
major role in calcium balance.
Catecholamine and thyroid hormone levels do not affect serum calcium level.
During the physical examination, the nurse cannot feel the patient's thyroid gland.
Which action would the nurse take?
a. Palpate the patient's neck more deeply.
b. Document that the thyroid was nonpalpable.
, 4|P age
c. Notify the health care provider immediately.
d. Teach the patient about thyroid hormone testing. - ANSWER: B
The thyroid is usually nonpalpable. The nurse would simply document the finding.
Deep palpation of the neck is not appropriate; do not press too hard or massage an
enlarged thyroid gland as this can cause a sudden release of thyroid hormone into
an already
overloaded system. There is no need to notify the health care provider immediately
about a normal finding. There is no indication for thyroid-stimulating hormone
(TSH) testing unless there is evidence of thyroid dysfunction.
Which laboratory value would the nurse review to determine whether a patient's
hypothyroidism is caused by a problem with the anterior pituitary gland?
a. Thyroxine (T4) level
b. Triiodothyronine (T3) level
c. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level
d. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) level - ANSWER: C
A low TSH level indicates that the patient's hypothyroidism is caused by decreased
anterior pituitary secretion of TSH. Low T3 and T4 levels are not diagnostic of the
primary cause of the hypothyroidism. TRH levels indicate the function of the
hypothalamus.
Which information will a patient's glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) result provide
to the nurse?
a. Fasting preprandial glucose levels
b. Glucose levels 2 hours after a meal
c. Glucose control over the past 90 days
d. Hypoglycemic episodes in the past 3 months - ANSWER: C
