Chapter 48: Pituitary and Adrenal Disorders
Linton: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is assessing a patient with Simmonds cachexia: What symptom should the nurse
anticipate the patient will exhibit?
a. High body temperature
b. Ruddy complexion
c. Silky body hair
d. Muscle wasting
ANS: D
Simmonds cachexia is a panhypopituitarism condition in which muscle wasting, small
organs, very pale complexion, virtually no body hair, and subnormal body
temperature are symptoms:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: pp: 934-935 OBJ: 1
TOP: Panhypopituitarism KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
2. Which findings are expected when assessing a patient with Cushing syndrome?
a. Edema of the trunk, extremities, and face
b. Wasting of the abdomen with thick, calloused skin
c. Excess adipose tissue in the trunk, slender extremities, and moon face
d. High levels of potassium and low levels of sodium, weakness, and wasting
ANS: C
Truncal obesity, thin extremities, and moon face are the classical signs of Cushing
syndrome caused by long-term corticosteroid therapy:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 944 OBJ: 1
TOP: Cushing Syndrome KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies
, 3. Which statement by a patient diagnosed with Cushing syndrome leads a nurse to conclude
that teaching has been effective?
a. “I know I should add salt to everything I eat:”
b. “I make a point to avoid excessive exposure to sun:”
c. “I avoid being exposed to anyone with an infection:”
d. “I am careful to wear well-fitting shoes:”
ANS: C
Patients with Cushing syndrome are especially prone to infection: Adding salt would
increase fluid retention: Sun exposure and well-fitting shoes are not significant for
Cushing syndrome:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 946 OBJ: 2
TOP: Cushing Syndrome KEY: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early
Detection of Disease
4. A nurse making a care plan for a 10-year-old boy with hyperpituitarism identifies an
altered body image: What should the nurse relate this nursing diagnosis to?
a. Lack of facial hair
b. Excessive height
c. Small genitalia
d. Skin eruptions on the face
ANS: B
A 10-year-old boy will be excessively tall for his age: Hair is not lacking, and skin
eruptions associated with giantism are observed: Most 10-year-old boys have small
genitalia:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p: 930 OBJ: 2
TOP: Hyperpituitarism KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Psychosocial Adaptation
5. What should a nurse include when caring for a patient after a hypophysectomy, during
which the entire pituitary was removed?
Linton: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is assessing a patient with Simmonds cachexia: What symptom should the nurse
anticipate the patient will exhibit?
a. High body temperature
b. Ruddy complexion
c. Silky body hair
d. Muscle wasting
ANS: D
Simmonds cachexia is a panhypopituitarism condition in which muscle wasting, small
organs, very pale complexion, virtually no body hair, and subnormal body
temperature are symptoms:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: pp: 934-935 OBJ: 1
TOP: Panhypopituitarism KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
2. Which findings are expected when assessing a patient with Cushing syndrome?
a. Edema of the trunk, extremities, and face
b. Wasting of the abdomen with thick, calloused skin
c. Excess adipose tissue in the trunk, slender extremities, and moon face
d. High levels of potassium and low levels of sodium, weakness, and wasting
ANS: C
Truncal obesity, thin extremities, and moon face are the classical signs of Cushing
syndrome caused by long-term corticosteroid therapy:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 944 OBJ: 1
TOP: Cushing Syndrome KEY: Nursing Process Step: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Pharmacological Therapies
, 3. Which statement by a patient diagnosed with Cushing syndrome leads a nurse to conclude
that teaching has been effective?
a. “I know I should add salt to everything I eat:”
b. “I make a point to avoid excessive exposure to sun:”
c. “I avoid being exposed to anyone with an infection:”
d. “I am careful to wear well-fitting shoes:”
ANS: C
Patients with Cushing syndrome are especially prone to infection: Adding salt would
increase fluid retention: Sun exposure and well-fitting shoes are not significant for
Cushing syndrome:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p: 946 OBJ: 2
TOP: Cushing Syndrome KEY: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early
Detection of Disease
4. A nurse making a care plan for a 10-year-old boy with hyperpituitarism identifies an
altered body image: What should the nurse relate this nursing diagnosis to?
a. Lack of facial hair
b. Excessive height
c. Small genitalia
d. Skin eruptions on the face
ANS: B
A 10-year-old boy will be excessively tall for his age: Hair is not lacking, and skin
eruptions associated with giantism are observed: Most 10-year-old boys have small
genitalia:
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p: 930 OBJ: 2
TOP: Hyperpituitarism KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Psychosocial Adaptation
5. What should a nurse include when caring for a patient after a hypophysectomy, during
which the entire pituitary was removed?
