NR 324 Adult Health II Week 6 Study Guide: Endocrine Disorders 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. A patient with SIADH is experiencing a serum sodium level of 120 mEq/L.
Which nursing intervention is the priority?
A. Encourage increased fluid intake
B. Administer a rapid bolus of 0.9% Normal Saline
C. Encourage the patient to eat more potassium-rich foods
D. Implement seizure precautions
Answer: D
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia (below 125 mEq/L) puts the patient at high risk for
cerebral edema and seizures, making safety precautions the priority.
2. Which clinical manifestation would the nurse expect to find in a patient with
Diabetes Insipidus?
A. Urine specific gravity of 1.035
B. Fluid volume overload
C. Excessive thirst and polydipsia
D. Weight gain and peripheral edema
Answer: C
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus is characterized by excessive loss of water, leading to intense
thirst and large volumes of dilute urine.
,3. A patient is 24 hours post-thyroidectomy. Which assessment finding requires
immediate notification of the healthcare provider?
A. Sore throat when swallowing
B. A pain score of 4 out of 10
C. Laryngeal stridor and hoarseness
D. Slight swelling at the incision site
Answer: C
Rationale: Laryngeal stridor indicates airway obstruction, possibly due to edema or nerve
damage, and is a medical emergency.
4. Which laboratory result is most consistent with a diagnosis of Primary
Hypothyroidism?
A. High TSH and low T4
B. High TSH and high T4
C. Low TSH and high T4
D. Low TSH and low T4
Answer: A
Rationale: In primary hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland fails to produce T4, which causes
the pituitary gland to increase TSH production in a feedback loop.
5. A nurse is teaching a patient about Levothyroxine therapy. Which instruction
is correct?
A. Take the medication on an empty stomach in the morning
B. Take the medication with a full meal at dinner
C. Stop the medication if you feel your heart racing
D. Calcium supplements should be taken at the same time for better absorption
Answer: A
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach, 30-60
minutes before breakfast, to ensure optimal absorption.
, 6. Which sign is a positive indicator of hypocalcemia often seen after
parathyroid damage?
A. Positive Chvostek’s sign
B. Negative Babinski sign
C. Decreased deep tendon reflexes
D. Positive Murphy’s sign
Answer: A
Rationale: Chvostek’s sign is the twitching of facial muscles in response to tapping over the
facial nerve, indicating hypocalcemia and neuromuscular irritability.
7. A patient with Cushing’s syndrome is at high risk for which of the following?
A. Hypotension
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Infection
D. Weight loss
Answer: C
Rationale: Excess cortisol suppresses the immune system and inflammatory response,
making the patient highly susceptible to infections.
8. Which clinical finding is classic for a patient with Addison’s disease?
A. Hyperpigmentation of the skin
B. Central obesity and moon face
C. Hypertension
D. Hyperglycemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Addison’s disease often presents with a ‘bronzed’ or hyperpigmented skin
appearance due to increased ACTH stimulating melanocytes.
|Chamberlain College
1. A patient with SIADH is experiencing a serum sodium level of 120 mEq/L.
Which nursing intervention is the priority?
A. Encourage increased fluid intake
B. Administer a rapid bolus of 0.9% Normal Saline
C. Encourage the patient to eat more potassium-rich foods
D. Implement seizure precautions
Answer: D
Rationale: Severe hyponatremia (below 125 mEq/L) puts the patient at high risk for
cerebral edema and seizures, making safety precautions the priority.
2. Which clinical manifestation would the nurse expect to find in a patient with
Diabetes Insipidus?
A. Urine specific gravity of 1.035
B. Fluid volume overload
C. Excessive thirst and polydipsia
D. Weight gain and peripheral edema
Answer: C
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus is characterized by excessive loss of water, leading to intense
thirst and large volumes of dilute urine.
,3. A patient is 24 hours post-thyroidectomy. Which assessment finding requires
immediate notification of the healthcare provider?
A. Sore throat when swallowing
B. A pain score of 4 out of 10
C. Laryngeal stridor and hoarseness
D. Slight swelling at the incision site
Answer: C
Rationale: Laryngeal stridor indicates airway obstruction, possibly due to edema or nerve
damage, and is a medical emergency.
4. Which laboratory result is most consistent with a diagnosis of Primary
Hypothyroidism?
A. High TSH and low T4
B. High TSH and high T4
C. Low TSH and high T4
D. Low TSH and low T4
Answer: A
Rationale: In primary hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland fails to produce T4, which causes
the pituitary gland to increase TSH production in a feedback loop.
5. A nurse is teaching a patient about Levothyroxine therapy. Which instruction
is correct?
A. Take the medication on an empty stomach in the morning
B. Take the medication with a full meal at dinner
C. Stop the medication if you feel your heart racing
D. Calcium supplements should be taken at the same time for better absorption
Answer: A
Rationale: Levothyroxine should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach, 30-60
minutes before breakfast, to ensure optimal absorption.
, 6. Which sign is a positive indicator of hypocalcemia often seen after
parathyroid damage?
A. Positive Chvostek’s sign
B. Negative Babinski sign
C. Decreased deep tendon reflexes
D. Positive Murphy’s sign
Answer: A
Rationale: Chvostek’s sign is the twitching of facial muscles in response to tapping over the
facial nerve, indicating hypocalcemia and neuromuscular irritability.
7. A patient with Cushing’s syndrome is at high risk for which of the following?
A. Hypotension
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Infection
D. Weight loss
Answer: C
Rationale: Excess cortisol suppresses the immune system and inflammatory response,
making the patient highly susceptible to infections.
8. Which clinical finding is classic for a patient with Addison’s disease?
A. Hyperpigmentation of the skin
B. Central obesity and moon face
C. Hypertension
D. Hyperglycemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Addison’s disease often presents with a ‘bronzed’ or hyperpigmented skin
appearance due to increased ACTH stimulating melanocytes.
