SCI 225 Week 8 Midterm Review Nightingale College – 50
High-Yield MCQs with Answers and Rationales
(Endocrine & Renal Focus) pdf
Q1. A patient with SIADH is most likely to present with which of the following?
A) Polyuria and hypernatremia
B) Oliguria with concentrated urine and hyponatremia
C) Hypotension and hypokalemia
D) Hypernatremia with dehydration
Answer: B) Oliguria with concentrated urine and hyponatremia ✅
Rationale: SIADH causes excess ADH secretion, leading to water retention.
This results in low urine output (oliguria), concentrated urine, and dilutional
hyponatremia. Polyuria, hypotension, and hypernatremia are not typical in
SIADH.
Q2. Which lab finding is an early indicator of diabetic nephropathy?
A) Elevated BUN and creatinine
B) Proteinuria (>300 mg/day)
C) Microalbuminuria (30–300 mg/day)
D) Anuria
Answer: C) Microalbuminuria ✅
Rationale: Microalbuminuria is the earliest sign of kidney damage in
diabetes. Elevated BUN and creatinine indicate more advanced disease, and
proteinuria >300 mg/day develops later.
Q3. A patient with Addison’s disease is prescribed hydrocortisone. What is the
primary purpose of this therapy?
,A) To reduce blood sugar
B) To manage hyperkalemia
C) To replace deficient cortisol
D) To enhance thyroid function
Answer: C) To replace deficient cortisol ✅
Rationale: Addison’s disease is adrenal insufficiency. Hydrocortisone
provides cortisol replacement, correcting fatigue, hypotension, and electrolyte
imbalances.
Q4. Which lab finding is consistent with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
A) Hypoglycemia
B) Metabolic alkalosis
C) Hyperglycemia with ketones in urine
D) Hypokalemia
Answer: C) Hyperglycemia with ketones in urine ✅
Rationale: DKA presents with high blood glucose, ketonuria, and metabolic
acidosis. Hypoglycemia and metabolic alkalosis are inconsistent, while potassium
may initially be normal or high.
Q5. A patient presents with low serum sodium and low serum osmolality. Which
condition should the nurse suspect?
A) Diabetes insipidus
B) Hyperthyroidism
C) Addison’s disease
D) SIADH
Answer: D) SIADH ✅
, Rationale: SIADH causes water retention, which dilutes sodium and lowers
serum osmolality. Diabetes insipidus typically causes hypernatremia and dilute
urine.
Q6. A patient with hypernatremia exhibits thirst, dry mucous membranes, and
confusion. Which condition is most likely?
A) SIADH
B) Diabetes insipidus
C) Addison’s disease
D) Hypothyroidism
Answer: B) Diabetes insipidus ✅
Rationale: Diabetes insipidus leads to loss of free water via large-volume
dilute urine, causing hypernatremia, dehydration, and neurological symptoms.
SIADH would cause hyponatremia instead.
Q7. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly seen in chronic kidney
disease (CKD)?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Hyperkalemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypocalcemia
Answer: B) Hyperkalemia ✅
Rationale: CKD impairs the kidney’s ability to excrete potassium, leading to
elevated serum potassium, which can cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
Q8. Which symptom is characteristic of hypoglycemia?
High-Yield MCQs with Answers and Rationales
(Endocrine & Renal Focus) pdf
Q1. A patient with SIADH is most likely to present with which of the following?
A) Polyuria and hypernatremia
B) Oliguria with concentrated urine and hyponatremia
C) Hypotension and hypokalemia
D) Hypernatremia with dehydration
Answer: B) Oliguria with concentrated urine and hyponatremia ✅
Rationale: SIADH causes excess ADH secretion, leading to water retention.
This results in low urine output (oliguria), concentrated urine, and dilutional
hyponatremia. Polyuria, hypotension, and hypernatremia are not typical in
SIADH.
Q2. Which lab finding is an early indicator of diabetic nephropathy?
A) Elevated BUN and creatinine
B) Proteinuria (>300 mg/day)
C) Microalbuminuria (30–300 mg/day)
D) Anuria
Answer: C) Microalbuminuria ✅
Rationale: Microalbuminuria is the earliest sign of kidney damage in
diabetes. Elevated BUN and creatinine indicate more advanced disease, and
proteinuria >300 mg/day develops later.
Q3. A patient with Addison’s disease is prescribed hydrocortisone. What is the
primary purpose of this therapy?
,A) To reduce blood sugar
B) To manage hyperkalemia
C) To replace deficient cortisol
D) To enhance thyroid function
Answer: C) To replace deficient cortisol ✅
Rationale: Addison’s disease is adrenal insufficiency. Hydrocortisone
provides cortisol replacement, correcting fatigue, hypotension, and electrolyte
imbalances.
Q4. Which lab finding is consistent with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
A) Hypoglycemia
B) Metabolic alkalosis
C) Hyperglycemia with ketones in urine
D) Hypokalemia
Answer: C) Hyperglycemia with ketones in urine ✅
Rationale: DKA presents with high blood glucose, ketonuria, and metabolic
acidosis. Hypoglycemia and metabolic alkalosis are inconsistent, while potassium
may initially be normal or high.
Q5. A patient presents with low serum sodium and low serum osmolality. Which
condition should the nurse suspect?
A) Diabetes insipidus
B) Hyperthyroidism
C) Addison’s disease
D) SIADH
Answer: D) SIADH ✅
, Rationale: SIADH causes water retention, which dilutes sodium and lowers
serum osmolality. Diabetes insipidus typically causes hypernatremia and dilute
urine.
Q6. A patient with hypernatremia exhibits thirst, dry mucous membranes, and
confusion. Which condition is most likely?
A) SIADH
B) Diabetes insipidus
C) Addison’s disease
D) Hypothyroidism
Answer: B) Diabetes insipidus ✅
Rationale: Diabetes insipidus leads to loss of free water via large-volume
dilute urine, causing hypernatremia, dehydration, and neurological symptoms.
SIADH would cause hyponatremia instead.
Q7. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly seen in chronic kidney
disease (CKD)?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Hyperkalemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypocalcemia
Answer: B) Hyperkalemia ✅
Rationale: CKD impairs the kidney’s ability to excrete potassium, leading to
elevated serum potassium, which can cause life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
Q8. Which symptom is characteristic of hypoglycemia?
