Chapter 64 Flashcards
A client is taking a drug that blocks a hormone’s receptor site. What is the effect on the client’s hormone response?
a. Greater hormone metabolism
b. Decreased hormone activity
c. Increased hormone activity
d. Unchanged hormone response
B: Hormones cause activity in the target tissues by binding with their specific cellular receptor sites, thereby changing the activity of the cell. When receptor sites are occupied by other substances that block hormone binding, the cell’s response is the same as when the level of the hormone is decreased.
How does a tropic hormone differ from other hormones?
a. Tropic hormones are given to clients who have a hormone deficiency.
b. Tropic hormones are exclusively involved in the production of sex hormones.
c. Tropic hormones stimulate other endocrine glands to secrete hormones.
d. Tropic hormones are not under negative feedback control.
C: The target tissues for tropic hormones are other endocrine glands. The effect of these agents is to stimulate another endocrine gland to secrete its hormone. The other statements are inaccurate.
A client has a deficiency of aldosterone. Which assessment finding does the nurse correlate with this condition?
a. Increased urine output
b. Vasoconstriction
c. Blood glucose, 98 mg/dL
d. Serum sodium, 144 mEq/L
A: Aldosterone, the major mineralocorticoid, maintains extracellular fluid volume. It promotes sodium and water reabsorption and potassium excretion in the kidney tubules. A client with an aldosterone deficiency will have increased urine output. Sodium and potassium levels are normal; in aldosterone deficiency, the client would have hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. Vasoconstriction is not related.
A male client reports fluid secretion from his breasts. What does the nurse assess next in this client?
a. Posterior pituitary hormones
b. Adrenal medulla functioning
c. Anterior pituitary hormones
d. Parathyroid functioning
C: Breast fluid and milk production are induced by the presence of prolactin, secreted from the anterior pituitary gland. The other hormones do not influence this process.
A client has a condition of excessive catecholamine release. Which assessment finding does the nurse correlate with this condition?
a. Decreased blood pressure
b. Increased pulse
c. Decreased respiratory rate
d. No change in vital signs
B: Catecholamines are responsible for the “fight-or-flight” stress response. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system can be correlated with tachycardia. The other options are not correlated with excessive catecholamine release.
A client is admitted to the hospital with exacerbation of heart failure, which had been stable for several years. Which finding does the nurse associate with the client’s current condition?
a. Recent prescription for thyroid hormone replacement medication
b. Recent onset of menopause
c. Patchy areas of depigmentation on the face
d. Absence of fish in the diet, but inclusion of the iodized form of table salt
A: Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism. Starting on thyroid replacement therapy can lead to an increase in heart rate and tissue oxygen use, which can lead to an exacerbation of heart failure if the client’s heart is not able to meet these increased demands. Menopause and vitiligo (depigmentation of the skin) would not be related. Thyroid function is needed to produce thyroid hormones. The client who does not eat shellfish should use iodized table salt.
A client has abnormal calcium levels. Which hormone does the nurse anticipate testing for?
a. Thyroxine (T4)
b. Triiodothyronine (T3)
c. Thyrocalcitonin (calcitonin)
d. Propylthiouracil (PTU)
C: Parafollicular cells produce thyrocalcitonin (calcitonin [TCT]), which helps regulate serum calcium levels. The other hormones are not related directly to calcium levels.
Which is the expected clinical manifestation for a client who has excessive production of melanocyte-stimulating hormone?
a. Hypoglycemia and hyperkalemia
b. Irritability and insomnia
c. Increased urine output
d. Darkening of the skin
D: Melanocyte-stimulating hormone increases the size of melanocytes in the skin and increases the amount of pigment (melanin) that they produce. The other actions do not occur as the result of excessive melanocyte-stimulating hormone function.
Which pulse rate finding in a client taking a drug that stimulates beta1 receptors requires immediate action by the nurse?
a. 50 beats/min
b. 95 beats/min
c. 85 beats/min
d. 100 beats/min
A: Stimulation of beta1 receptor sites in the heart has positive chronotropic and inotropic actions. The nurse expects an increase in heart rate and increased cardiac output. The client with a heart rate of 50 beats/min would be cause for concern because this would indicate that the client was not responding to the medication. The other heart rates are within normal limits but on the higher end and would be considered a therapeutic response to the medication.
Which situation or condition is likely to result in increased production of thyroid hormones?
a. Starvation
b. Dehydration
c. Adequate sleep
d. Cold environmental temperature
D: Cold environmental temperatures stimulate the hypothalamus to secrete thyrotropin-releasing hormone, which in turn stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to secrete thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH then stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete thyroid hormones, which, when bound to target tissues, increase the rate of metabolism to maintain body temperature near normal. The other situations would not lead to an increase in thyroid hormone production.
A client has bilateral patchy areas of skin depigmentation on the arms and the face. Which action by the nurse is best?
a. Assess the client’s mucous membranes.
b. Draw a laboratory specimen for thyroid hormone levels.
c. Schedule the client for fasting blood glucose.
d. Question the client about sexual functioning.
A: Vitiligo, patchy areas of depigmentation of the skin, is associated with primary hypofunction of the adrenal glands. Other assessment findings in this condition include uneven pigmentation on the mucous membranes. The other assessments are not related to vitiligo.
A new nurse is palpating a client’s thyroid gland. Which action requires intervention from the nurse’s mentor?
a. The nurse stands behind, instead of in front of, the client.
b. The client is asked to swallow while the nurse finds the thyroid gland.
c. The nurse palpates the right lobe with his or her left hand.
d. The client is placed in a sitting position with the chin tucked down.
C: The client should be in a sitting position with the chin tucked down as the examiner stands behind the client. The nurse feels for the thyroid isthmus while the client swallows and turns the head to the right, and the nurse palpates the right lobe with the right hand. The technique is repeated in the opposite fashion for the left lobe.
Which client statement indicates the need for clarification regarding the instructions for collecting a 24-hour urine specimen for assessment of endocrine function?
a. “I will continue to take all my prescribed medicine during the test.”
b. “I will add the preservative to the container at the beginning of the test.”
c. “I will start the collection by saving the first urine of the morning.”
d. “At the end of 24 hours, I will urinate and save that last specimen.”
C: The 24-hour urine collection specimen is started when the client first arises and urinates. The first urine specimen is discarded because there is no way to know how long it has been in the bladder, but the time is noted. The client adds all urine voided after that first discarded specimen during the next 24 hours. When the 24-hour mark is reached, the client voids one last time and adds this specimen to the collection. The preservative, if used, must be added to the container at the beginning of the collection. Clients can continue to take all their normal medications during a timed urine collection. They should, however, avoid unnecessary medications.
A female client with an endocrine problem has hirsutism. Which question or statement by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. “Do you have the money to pay for treatment?”
b. “I’m interested in knowing how you feel about yourself.”
c. “Many treatment options are available for this problem.”
d. “What can you do to prevent this from happening?”
B: Hirsutism, excessive hair growth on the face and body, can result from endocrine disorders. This may cause a disruption in body image, especially for female clients. The nurse should gently inquire into the client’s body image and self-perception. Asking about the client’s financial status sounds judgmental. Simply stating that treatment options are available minimizes the client’s concerns. The client is not doing anything to herself to cause the problem, so the last question is inappropriate.
A client asks why a 24-hour urine collection is necessary to measure excreted hormones instead of a random voided specimen. Which response by the nurse is most accurate?
a. “We are testing for a hormone secreted on a circadian rhythm.”
b. “The hormone is so dilute in urine, we need a large volume.”
c. “We want to see when the hormone is secreted in both large and small amounts.”
d. “You’d have to be here at a specific time of the day for a random urinalysis.”
A: Some hormones are secreted in a pulsatile, or circadian, cycle. When testing for these substances, a collection that occurs over 24 hours will most accurately reflect hormone secretion. The other responses are not accurate.
