Chapter 48: Metabolism/Endocrine Disorders Flashcards

1
Q
  1. The nurse is obtaining a health history from parents whose 4-month-old boy
    has congenital hypothyroidism. What would the nurse most likely assess?
    A) The child has above-normal growth for his age.
    B) The child is active and playful.
    C) The skin is pink and healthy looking.
    D) It is difficult to keep the child awake.
A

Ans: D
Rationale: The parents may state, during the health history, that it is difficult to keep the child awake. Physical examination would reveal that the child is below the normal weight and height for his age, that his skin is pale and mottled, and that he is lethargic and irritable.

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2
Q
  1. The nurse is caring for an 8-year-old girl with hyperpituitarism. What ordered treatment will the nurse expect to perform?
    A) Give desmopressin acetate intranasally
    B) Inject octreotide acetate
    C) Give 1 mg/kg/day of methimazole
    D) Administer glipizide orally
A

Ans: B
Rationale: The nurse would give the child a subcutaneous injection of octreotide acetate every 12 hours as directed. Desmopressin is a synthetic antidiuretic hormone used to
treat diabetes insipidus. Methimazole is an antithyroid drug used to treat hyperthyroidism. Glipizide is a hypoglycemic drug that assists insulin production in children with diabetes mellitus type 2.

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3
Q
  1. The nurse is developing a plan of care for a 7-year-old boy with diabetes insipidus. What is the priority nursing diagnosis?
    A) Deficient fluid volume related to dehydration
    B) Excess fluid volume related to edema
    C) Deficient knowledge related to fluid intake regimen
    D) Imbalanced nutrition, more than body requirements related to excess
    weight
A

Ans: A
Rationale: The priority nursing diagnosis most likely would be deficient fluid volume related to dehydration, due to a deficiency in the secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Excess fluid would result from a disorder that leads to water retention, such as syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Deficient knowledge related to fluid intake regimen is a nursing diagnosis for this child, but a secondary
one. Imbalanced nutrition, more than body requirements related to excess weight would be inappropriate for this child since he probably has lost weight secondary to the fluid loss.

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4
Q
  1. The nurse is assessing a 9-year-old girl with a history of tuberculosis at age 6 years. She has been losing weight and has no appetite. The nurse suspects Addison disease based on which assessment findings?
    A) Arrested height and increased weight
    B) Thin, fragile skin and multiple bruises
    C) Hyperpigmentation and hypotension
    D) Blurred vision and enuresis
A

Ans: C
Rationale: Hyperpigmentation and hypotension would point to Addison disease. Arrested height and increased weight are typical of acquired hypothyroidism; this girl has
lost weight. Thin, fragile skin and multiple bruises are indicative of Cushing syndrome. Blurred vision, headaches, and enuresis would be complaints of a child with diabetes mellitus.

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5
Q
  1. The nurse is caring for a 13-year-old girl with delayed puberty. Based on the nurse’s knowledge of this condition, the nurse would include which nursing diagnosis in the child’s plan of care?
    A) Disabled family coping related to the child’s disorder
    B) Imbalanced nutrition, less than body requirements related to the child’s short stature
    C) Noncompliance related to the need for lifelong hormone therapy
    D) Deficient knowledge related to the administration of estradiol
A

Ans: D
Rationale: Deficient knowledge related to the administration of estradiol is an appropriate nursing diagnosis for this child. There are oral, transdermal, topical, injectable, and
vaginal preparations available. Disabled family coping due to the child’s disorder and noncompliance due to long-term therapy are not likely diagnoses because of the simplicity and brevity of the treatment for this disorder. Imbalanced nutrition evidenced by short stature would be appropriate for a child with growth hormone deficiency.

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6
Q
  1. The nurse is preparing a teaching plan for the family and their 6-year-old son who has just been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. What would the nurse identify
    as the initial goal for the teaching plan?
    A) Developing management and decision-making skills
    B) Educating the parents about diabetes mellitus type 1
    C) Developing a nutritionally sound, 30-day meal plan
    D) Promoting independence with self-administration of insulin
A

Ans: A
Rationale: Developing basic management and decision-making skills related to the diabetes is the initial goal of the teaching plan for this child and family. The nurse would have
provided a basic description of the disorder after it was diagnosed. Development of a detailed monthly meal plan would come later, perhaps after consulting with a nutritionist. It is too soon to expect the boy to administer his own insulin.

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7
Q
  1. The nurse is caring for an 8-year-old girl with an endocrine disorder involving the posterior pituitary gland. What care would the nurse expect to implement?
    A) Instructing the parents to report adverse reactions to the growth hormone treatment
    B) Teaching the parents how to administer desmopressin acetate
    C) Informing the parents that treatment stops when puberty begins
    D) Educating the parents to report signs of acute adrenal crisis
A

Ans: B
Rationale: The nurse would teach the parents how to administer desmopressin acetate, which treats diabetes insipidus, a disorder related to the posterior pituitary gland. Instructing parents to report adverse reactions to growth hormone is an intervention for growth hormone deficiency. Informing the parents that treatment stops at the normal time of puberty is a teaching intervention for precocious
puberty. Educating the parents to report signs of an acute adrenal crisis is an intervention for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. All three of these other disorders are related to the anterior pituitary.

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8
Q
  1. The nurse is assessing a 13-year-old boy with type 2 diabetes mellitus. What would the nurse correlate with disorder?
    A) The parents report that their child had “a cold or flu” recently.
    B) Blood pressure is decreased when checking vital signs.
    C) The parents report that their son “can’t drink enough water.”
    D) Auscultation reveals Kussmaul breathing.
A

Ans: C
Rationale: Unquenchable thirst (polydipsia) is a common finding associated with diabetes mellitus, type 1 and 2. However, reports of flu-like illness and Kussmaul breathing
are more commonly associated with type 1 diabetes. Blood pressure is normal with type 1 diabetes and elevated with type 2 diabetes.

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9
Q
  1. The nurse is preparing a teaching plan for a 10-year-old girl with hyperthyroidism. What information would the nurse include in the plan?
    A) Describing surgery to remove an anterior pituitary tumor
    B) Teaching her parents to give injections of growth hormone
    C) Explaining about the radioactive iodine procedure
    D) Showing her parents how to give DDAVP intranasally
A

Ans: C
Rationale: Explaining about the radioactive iodine procedure would be part of the teaching plan for a child with hyperthyroidism because this is a less invasive type of therapy for the disorder. Describing surgery to remove an anterior pituitary tumor would be included for a child with hyperpituitarism. Teaching a parent to give injections of
growth hormone would be appropriate for a child with a growth hormone deficiency. Showing parents how to give DDAVP intranasally is appropriate for a child with diabetes insipidus.

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10
Q
  1. What finding would the nurse expect to assess in a child with hypothyroidism?
    A) Nervousness
    B) Heat intolerance
    C) Smooth velvety skin
    D) Weight gain
A

Ans: D
Rationale: Hypothyroidism is manifested by weight gain, fatigue, cold intolerance, and dry skin. Nervousness, heat intolerance, and smooth velvety skin are associated with
hyperthyroidism.

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11
Q
  1. The parents of a child with congenital adrenal hyperplasia bring the child to the emergency department for evaluation because the child has had persistent
    vomiting. What finding would lead the nurse to suspect that the child is experiencing an acute adrenal crisis?
    A) Hypernatremia
    B) Bradycardia
    C) Hypertension
    D) Hyperkalemia
A

Ans: D
Rationale: Signs and symptoms of an acute adrenal crisis include hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, tachycardia, hypotension, persistent vomiting, dehydration, and
shock.

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12
Q
  1. A child with diabetes reports that he is feeling a little shaky. Further assessment reveals that the child is coherent but with some slight tremors and sweating. A fingerstick blood glucose level is 70 mg/dL. What would the nurse do
    next?
    A) Administer a sliding-scale dose of insulin.
    B) Give 10 to 15 g of a simple carbohydrate.
    C) Offer a complex carbohydrate snack.
    D) Administer glucagon intramuscularly.
A

Ans: B
Rationale: The child is experiencing hypoglycemia as evidenced by the assessment findings and blood glucose level. Since the child is coherent, offering the child 10 to 15 g of a simple carbohydrate would be appropriate. Insulin is not used because the child is hypoglycemic. A complex carbohydrate snack would be used after offering the
simple carbohydrate to maintain the glucose level. Intramuscular glucagon would be used if the child was not coherent.

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13
Q
  1. A child with growth hormone deficiency is receiving growth hormone. Whatresult would the nurse interpret as indicating effectiveness of this therapy?
    A) Rapid weight gain
    B) Complaints of headaches
    C) Height increase of 4 in
    D) Growth plate closure
A

Ans: C
Rationale: Effectiveness of growth hormone therapy is indicated by at least a 3- to 5-in increase in linear growth in the first year of treatment. Rapid weight gain and headaches are adverse reactions of this therapy. The drug is stopped when the epiphyseal growth plates close.

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14
Q
  1. After teaching the parents of a daughter with central precocious puberty about medication therapy, which statement by the parents indicates successful teaching?
    A) “She needs to use the nasal spray once every day.”
    B) “She will start puberty again when the medication stops.”
    C) “This medication will slow down the changes but not reverse them.”
    D) “Once therapy is done, she’ll need surgery.
A

Ans: B
Rationale: Treatment for central precocious puberty involves administering a gonadotropin- releasing hormone (GnRH) analog. When it is stopped, puberty resumes according to the appropriate developmental stages. This analog can be given by depot injection every 3 to 4 weeks, a daily subcutaneous injection, or an intranasal spray two or three times per day. With GnRH analog treatment, secondary sexual development stabilizes or regresses. Surgery is indicated only if there is a tumor.

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15
Q
  1. A group of nursing students are reviewing information about the endocrine
    system in infants and children. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they state:
    A) Endocrine glands begin developing in the third trimester of gestation.
    B) B) At birth, the endocrine glands are completely functional.
    C) Infants have difficulty balancing glucose and electrolytes.
    D) A child’s endocrine system has little effect on growth and
    development.
A

Ans: C
Rationale: Typically, most endocrine glands begin to develop during the first trimester of gestation, but their development is incomplete at birth. Thus, complete hormonal control is lacking during the early years of life, and the infant can not appropriately balance fluid concentration, electrolytes, amino acids, glucose, and trace substances.

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16
Q
  1. A child is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Which agent would the nurse
    expect the healthcare provider to prescribe?
    A) Mineralocorticoid
    B) Methimazole
    C) Levothyroxine
    D) Dexamethasone
A

Ans: B
Rationale: Methimazole is an antithyroid drug that is used to treat hyperthyroidism. Mineralocorticoid is used to treat adrenal insufficiency. Levothyroxine is used to treat hypothyroidism. Dexamethasone is used to treat congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

17
Q
  1. A child with diabetes insipidus is being treated with vasopressin. The nurse would assess the child closely for signs and symptoms of which condition?
    A) Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)
    B) Thyroid storm
    C) Cushing syndrome
    D) Vitamin D toxicity
A

SIADH, although rare in children, is a potential complication of excessive administration of vasopressin. Thyroid storm may result from overadministration of levothyroxine (thyroid hormone replacement). Cushing syndrome is associated with corticosteroid use. Vitamin D toxicity may result from the use of vitamin D as treatment of hypoparathyroidism.

18
Q
  1. The nurse is reviewing the laboratory test results of a child with Addison disease. What would the nurse expect to find?
    A) Hypernatremia
    B) Hyperkalemia
    C) Hyperglycemia
    D) Hypercalcemia
A

Ans: B
Rationale: With Addison disease, the child would exhibit hyperkalemia, hyponatremia, , and hypoglycemia. Hypercalcemia would be associated with hyperparathyroidism.

19
Q
  1. A nurse is teaching the parents of an infant with congenital adrenal hyperplasia about the signs and symptoms of adrenal crisis. The nurse determines
    that the teaching was successful when the parents correctly identify what sign of adrenal crisis?
    A) Bradycardia
    B) Constipation
    C) Fluid overload
    D) Persistent vomiting
A

Ans: D
Rationale: Signs and symptoms of acute adrenal crisis include persistent vomiting, dehydration, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, hypotension, tachycardia, and shock.

20
Q
  1. A group of students are reviewing information about the various types of insulin used to treat type 1 diabetes. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify which of these insulins as having the longest duration?
    A) Lispro
    B) Regular
    C) NPH
    D) Glargine
A

Ans: D
Rationale: Of the insulins listed, glargine (Lantus) has the longest duration of action that is, 12 to 24 hours. Lispro lasts approximately 3 to 5 hours; regular lasts 5 to 8 hours; and NPH lasts approximately 10 to 16 hours.

21
Q
  1. A 5-year-old child with type 1 diabetes is brought to the clinic by his mother for a follow-up visit after having his hemoglobin A1C level drawn. Which result would indicate to the nurse that the child is achieving long-term glucose control?
    A) 9.0%
    B) 8.2%
    C) 7.3%
    D) 6.9%
A

Ans: B
Rationale: For a child 6 years of age and younger, the target HbA1C level should be less than 8.5% but greater than 7.5%. For children between the ages of 6 and 12 years, the
target HbA1C level is less than 8%. For children and adolescents between 13 and 19 years of age, the target HbA1C level would be less than 7.5%.

22
Q
  1. The parents of a 7-year-old girl with type 1 diabetes has been recording her blood glucose measurements before meals and at bedtime for the past 4 days; they
    are as follows:
    Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
    B: 120 mg/dL 135 mg/dL 124 mg/dL 200 mg/dL
    L: 110 mg/dL 120 mg/dL 140 mg/dL 220 mg/dL
    D: 90 mg/dL140 mg/dL 130 mg/dL 200 mg/dL
    Bed: 110 mg/dL 110 mg/dL 160 mg/dL 240 mg/dL
    The parents bring the child in for a follow-up visit and show the nurse the results. Based on the results, the nurse would need to obtain additional information from the parents and child about which day?
    A) Monday
    B) Tuesday
    C) Wednesday
    D) Thursday
A

Ans: D
Rationale: Blood glucose levels for a child who is 7 years of age should range from 90 to 180 mg/dL before meals and from 100 to 180 mg/dL before bedtime. On Thursday, the results for each testing were above normal. Therefore, the nurse needs to gather additional information about this day.

23
Q
  1. The nurse is administering 10 units of NPH insulin to a child at 8 AM. The nurse would expect this insulin to begin acting at which time?
    A) By 8:15 AM
    B) Between 8:30 and 9 AM
    C) Between 9 and 11 AM
    D) Around 12 noon
A

Ans: C
Rationale: NPH insulin has an onset of action of 1 to 3 hours, so the drug would begin to act between 9 and 11 AM. A rapid-acting insulin would begin to act by 8:15 AM; regular
insulin would begin to act between 8:30 and 9 AM. No type of insulin would begin acting around 12 noon.

24
Q
  1. The nurse suspects that a 4 year old with type 1 diabetes is experiencing hypoglycemia based on what findings? Select all that apply.
    A) Blurred vision
    B) Dry, flushed skin
    C) Diaphoresis
    D) Slurred speech
    E) Fruity breath odor
    F) Tachycardia
A

Ans: C, D, F
Rationale: Manifestations of hypoglycemia include behavioral changes, confusion, slurred speech, belligerence, diaphoresis, tremors, palpitation, and tachycardia. Blurred
vision; dry, flushed skin; and fruity breath odor suggest hyperglycemia.

25
Q
  1. A nurse is preparing a presentation for a group of parents of adolescents
    diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. What issues would the nurse need to address? Select all that apply.
    A) Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels
    B) Feelings of being different
    C) Deficient decision-making skills
    D) Body image conflicts
    E) Struggle for independence
A

Ans: C, D, E
Rationale: Adolescents are undergoing rapid physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. Working toward a separate identity from parents and the demands of diabetic care
can hinder this. This struggle for independence can lead to nonadherence of the diabetic care regimen. Conflicts develop with self-management, body image, and peer group acceptance. Teens may acquire the skills to perform tasks related to diabetic care but may lack decision-making skills needed to adjust treatment plan. Teens do not always foresee the consequences of their activities. Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels and feelings of being different are issues common to school-age children.

26
Q
  1. A group of nursing students are reviewing the components of the endocrine system. The students demonstrate understanding of the review when they identify what as the primary function of this system?
    A) Regulation of water balance
    B) Hormonal secretion
    C) Cellular metabolism
    D) Growth stimulation
A

Ans: B
Rationale: The endocrine system consists of various glands, tissues, or clusters of cells that produce and release hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that stimulate
and/or regulate the actions of other tissues, organs, or endocrine glands that have specific receptors to a hormone. Along with the nervous system, the endocrine milieu influences all physiologic effects such as growth and development, metabolic processes related to fluid and electrolyte balance and energy production, sexual
maturation and reproduction, and the body’s response to stress. The release patterns of the hormones vary, but the level in the body is maintained within specified limits to preserve health.

27
Q
  1. A child has been prescribed growth hormone. When collecting data from this client, which report is of the greatest concern?
    A) “I sometimes have headaches.”
    B) “I feel tired.”
    C) “My hips often hurt.”
    D) “I take this medication with food.”
A

Ans: C
Rationale: Limping or complaints of hip pain are of concern. This may signal issues with the epiphysis and warrants further evaluation. Headaches and fatigue are not associated with medication. Taking this medication with food is not contraindicated.

28
Q
  1. A 6-year-old child has been diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. The child’s mother requests more information about this condition. Which statements
    should be included in the nurse’s response? Select all that apply.
    A) “The majority of children who have this condition are born of normal weight and length.”
    B) “There are several potential causes of this condition.”
    C) “This condition is most likely related to dwarfism in past generations of your family.”
    D) “Most children with this condition are nutritionally deprived.”
    E) “Your child most likely does not eat adequate amounts of protein.”
A

Ans: A, B
Rationale: Growth hormone deficiency can result from a variety of causes. These causes may include genetic mutations, tumors, infection, and birth trauma. Some cases have not identifiable causes. Most children diagnosed with this condition are of normal length and weight at birth but in childhood fall behind in growth. A small proportion of children may have nutritional concerns.

29
Q
  1. The nurse is caring for a 9-year-old client newly diagnosed with diabetes. The client has polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss. Which nursing diagnoses will the nurse include in the care plan? Select all that apply.
    A) Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements
    B) Deficient fluid volume
    C) Deficient knowledge regarding disease process
    D) Noncompliance
    E) Delayed growth and development
A

Ans: A, B, C
Rationale: Polyuria (excessive urination), polydipsia (excessive thirst), and weight loss support the diagnoses of deficient fluid volume and imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements. Being newly diagnosed with the disease at the age of 9 supports the diagnosis of Deficient knowledge regarding disease process. There is no data to
support noncompliance or delayed growth and development.

30
Q
  1. A teenage girl diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome tells the nurse, “I refuse to take oral contraceptives since I am not sexually active.” What is the best
    response to the girl?
    A) “It’s important for you to take the pills even if you’re not sexually active in order to prevent unwanted symptoms of the disease.”
    B) “The healthcare provider has prescribed these for you because it is an effective treatment method for the disease.”
    C) “I know it’s hard remembering to take those pills every day. Tell me more about what is making you not want to take the oral contraceptives.”
    D) “Do your parents know that you are not taking the treatment medication your healthcare provider prescribed?”
A

Ans: C
Rationale: This response shows empathy to the client and encourages her to further discuss the reasons they are noncompliant with the prescribed treatment regimen. “It’s
important for you to take the pills even if you’re not sexually active…,” and “The healthcare provider has prescribed these for you because it is an effective treatment…” are accurate statements, but they are not methods of therapeutic
communication and do not lead to further discussion about the noncompliance. Asking if the parents know she isn’t taking the medications leads to mistrust of the nurse.