Lewis Chapter 50 Elsevier Flashcards
The nurse is providing instructions to a patient regarding a urine study for free cortisol. Which of the following instructions is most important to include?
A. Save the first voided urine in the morning.
B. Maintain a high-sodium diet 3 days before collection.
C. Try to avoid stressful situations during the collection period.
D. Complete at least 30 minutes of strenuous exercise before collecting the urine sample
C.A urine study for free (unbound) cortisol requires a 24-hour urine collection. The patient should be instructed to avoid stressful situations and excessive physical exercise as these situations could unduly increase cortisol levels. The patient should also maintain a low-sodium diet before and during the urine collection period.
Which of the following assessment parameters is of highest priority when caring for a patient undergoing a water deprivation test?
A. Serum glucose
B. Weight
C. Arterial blood gases
D. Temperature
B. A patient is at risk for severe dehydration during a water deprivation test. The test should be discontinued and the patient rehydrated if the patient’s weight drops more than 2 kg at any time. The other parameters do not assess fluid balance.
A patient has sought care because of a loss of 12 kg over the past 6 months, during which the patient claims to have made no significant dietary changes. Which of the following disorders is a potential cause of the weight loss?
A. Thyroid disorders
B. Diabetes insipidus
C. Pituitary dysfunction
D. Parathyroid dysfunction
A. Hyperthyroidism is associated with weight loss. Alterations in pituitary function, such as diabetes insipidus, and parathyroid dysfunction are not commonly associated with this symptom.
The surgeon was unable to save a patient’s parathyroid gland during a radical thyroidectomy. The nurse should consequently pay particular attention to which of the following components of the patient’s laboratory values?
A. Calcium
B. Potassium
C. Blood glucose
D. Sodium
A. The parathyroid gland plays a key role in maintaining calcium levels. Potassium, sodium, and glucose are not directly influenced by the loss of the parathyroid gland.
A patient’s recent medical history is indicative of diabetes insipidus. The nurse would anticipate performing patient education related to which of the following diagnostic tests?
A. Thyroid scan
B. Fasting glucose test
C. Oral glucose tolerance
D. Water deprivation test
D. A water deprivation test is used to diagnose the polyuria that accompanies diabetes insipidus. Glucose tests and thyroid tests are not directly related to the diagnosis of diabetes insipidus.
