ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
OF PATIENTS WITH ENDOCRINE
DISORDERS EXAM 2026(CH. 52)
1. The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with hypothyroidism secondary to
Hashimotos thyroiditis.
When assessing this patient, what sign or symptom would the nurse expect?
A) Fatigue
B) Bulging eyes
C) Palpitations
D) Flushed skin - answer-Ans: A
Feedback:
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include extreme fatigue, hair loss, brittle nails, dry skin,
voice huskiness or hoarseness, menstrual disturbance, and numbness and tingling of
the fingers. Bulging eyes, palpitations, and flushed skin would be signs and symptoms
of hyperthyroidism.
2. A patient has been admitted to the post-surgical unit following a thyroidectomy. To
promote comfort and
safety, how should the nurse best position the patient?
A) Side-lying (lateral) with one pillow under the head
B) Head of the bed elevated 30 degrees and no pillows placed under the head
C) Semi-Fowlers with the head supported on two pillows
D) Supine, with a small roll supporting the neck - answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
When moving and turning the patient, the nurse carefully supports the patients head
and avoids tension on the sutures. The most comfortable position is the semi-Fowlers
position, with the head elevated and supported by pillows.
,3. A patient with thyroid cancer has undergone surgery and a significant amount of
parathyroid tissue has
been removed. The nurse caring for the patient should prioritize what question when
addressing
Test Bank - Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle
2017) 980
potential complications?
A) Do you feel any muscle twitches or spasms?
B) Do you feel flushed or sweaty?
C) Are you experiencing any dizziness or lightheadedness?
D) Are you having any pain that seems to be radiating from your bones? - answer-Ans: A
Feedback:
As the blood calcium level falls, hyperirritability of the nerves occurs, with spasms of
the hands and feet and muscle twitching. This is characteristic of hypoparathyroidism.
Flushing, diaphoresis, dizziness, and pain are atypical signs of the resulting
hypocalcemia.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient with a diagnosis of Addisons disease. What sign or
symptom is most
closely associated with this health problem?
A) Truncal obesity
B) Hypertension
C) Muscle weakness
D) Moon face - answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
Patients with Addisons disease demonstrate muscular weakness, anorexia,
gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, emaciation, dark pigmentation of the skin, and
hypotension. Patients with Cushing syndrome demonstrate truncal obesity, moon face,
acne, abdominal striae, and hypertension.
, 5. The nurse is caring for a patient with Addisons disease who is scheduled for
discharge. When teaching
the patient about hormone replacement therapy, the nurse should address what topic?
A) The possibility of precipitous weight gain
B) The need for lifelong steroid replacement
Test Bank - Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle
2017) 981
C) The need to match the daily steroid dose to immediate symptoms
D) The importance of monitoring liver function - answer-Ans: B
Feedback:
Because of the need for lifelong replacement of adrenal cortex hormones to prevent
addisonian crises, the patient and family members receive explicit education about the
rationale for replacement therapy and proper dosage. Doses are not adjusted on a
short-term basis. Weight gain and hepatotoxicity are not common adverse effects.
6. The nurse is teaching a patient that the body needs iodine for the thyroid to function.
What food would
be the best source of iodine for the body?
A) Eggs
B) Shellfish
C) Table salt
D) Red meat - answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
The major use of iodine in the body is by the thyroid. Iodized table salt is the best source
of iodine.
7. A patient is prescribed corticosteroid therapy. What would be priority information for
the nurse to give
the patient who is prescribed long-term corticosteroid therapy?
A) The patients diet should be low protein with ample fat.
OF PATIENTS WITH ENDOCRINE
DISORDERS EXAM 2026(CH. 52)
1. The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with hypothyroidism secondary to
Hashimotos thyroiditis.
When assessing this patient, what sign or symptom would the nurse expect?
A) Fatigue
B) Bulging eyes
C) Palpitations
D) Flushed skin - answer-Ans: A
Feedback:
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include extreme fatigue, hair loss, brittle nails, dry skin,
voice huskiness or hoarseness, menstrual disturbance, and numbness and tingling of
the fingers. Bulging eyes, palpitations, and flushed skin would be signs and symptoms
of hyperthyroidism.
2. A patient has been admitted to the post-surgical unit following a thyroidectomy. To
promote comfort and
safety, how should the nurse best position the patient?
A) Side-lying (lateral) with one pillow under the head
B) Head of the bed elevated 30 degrees and no pillows placed under the head
C) Semi-Fowlers with the head supported on two pillows
D) Supine, with a small roll supporting the neck - answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
When moving and turning the patient, the nurse carefully supports the patients head
and avoids tension on the sutures. The most comfortable position is the semi-Fowlers
position, with the head elevated and supported by pillows.
,3. A patient with thyroid cancer has undergone surgery and a significant amount of
parathyroid tissue has
been removed. The nurse caring for the patient should prioritize what question when
addressing
Test Bank - Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle
2017) 980
potential complications?
A) Do you feel any muscle twitches or spasms?
B) Do you feel flushed or sweaty?
C) Are you experiencing any dizziness or lightheadedness?
D) Are you having any pain that seems to be radiating from your bones? - answer-Ans: A
Feedback:
As the blood calcium level falls, hyperirritability of the nerves occurs, with spasms of
the hands and feet and muscle twitching. This is characteristic of hypoparathyroidism.
Flushing, diaphoresis, dizziness, and pain are atypical signs of the resulting
hypocalcemia.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient with a diagnosis of Addisons disease. What sign or
symptom is most
closely associated with this health problem?
A) Truncal obesity
B) Hypertension
C) Muscle weakness
D) Moon face - answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
Patients with Addisons disease demonstrate muscular weakness, anorexia,
gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, emaciation, dark pigmentation of the skin, and
hypotension. Patients with Cushing syndrome demonstrate truncal obesity, moon face,
acne, abdominal striae, and hypertension.
, 5. The nurse is caring for a patient with Addisons disease who is scheduled for
discharge. When teaching
the patient about hormone replacement therapy, the nurse should address what topic?
A) The possibility of precipitous weight gain
B) The need for lifelong steroid replacement
Test Bank - Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle
2017) 981
C) The need to match the daily steroid dose to immediate symptoms
D) The importance of monitoring liver function - answer-Ans: B
Feedback:
Because of the need for lifelong replacement of adrenal cortex hormones to prevent
addisonian crises, the patient and family members receive explicit education about the
rationale for replacement therapy and proper dosage. Doses are not adjusted on a
short-term basis. Weight gain and hepatotoxicity are not common adverse effects.
6. The nurse is teaching a patient that the body needs iodine for the thyroid to function.
What food would
be the best source of iodine for the body?
A) Eggs
B) Shellfish
C) Table salt
D) Red meat - answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
The major use of iodine in the body is by the thyroid. Iodized table salt is the best source
of iodine.
7. A patient is prescribed corticosteroid therapy. What would be priority information for
the nurse to give
the patient who is prescribed long-term corticosteroid therapy?
A) The patients diet should be low protein with ample fat.
