Quiz: Chapter 13 – Pituitary Drugs

Question 0

1. The nurse is providing care to a patient following a non–accidental traumatic brain injury. The patient has developed diabetes insipidus due to the injury. What medication is most often used in the management of diabetes insipidus?

A) desmopressin (DDAVP)
B) corticotrophin (Acthar)
C) octreotide (Sandostatin)
D) somatropin (Humatrope)

Answer 0

A) Desmopressin (DDAVP)

– Vasopressin (Pitressin) and desmopressin (DDAVP) are used to prevent or control polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyuria, and dehydration in patients with diabetes insipidus caused by a deficiency of endogenous antidiuretic hormone

Question 1

2. The nurse that is admitting a patient with acromegaly anticipates administering which medication?
A) desmopressin (DDAVP)
B) corticotropin (Acthar)
C) somatropin (Nutropin)
D) octreotide (Sandostatin)

Answer 1

D) octreotide (Sandostatin)

– Octreotide suppresses growth hormone, the culprit of acromegaly.

Question 2

3. Which is a priority nursing diagnosis for patient receiving desmopressin (DDAVP)?

A) risk for injury
B) acute pain
C) excess fluid volume
D) deficient knowledge regarding medication

Answer 2

C) excess fluid volume

– Desmopressin is a form of antidiuretic hormone, which increases sodium and water retention, leading to an alteration and fluid volume. Although the other nursing diagnoses may be appropriate, they’re not a priority using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Question 3

4. What will the nurse assess when monitoring for the therapeutic effectiveness of vasopressin?

A) fluid balance
B) patient’s pain scale
C) serum albumin levels
D) adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels

Answer 3

A) fluid balance

– Vasopressin causes decreased water excretion of the renal tubule, thus decreasing urine output. It is used to treat diabetes insipidus, which presents with polyuria and dehydration.

Question 4

5. The nurse would question an order for somatrem (Protropin) in a patient with which condition?

A) dwarfism
B) acromegaly
C) growth failure
D) hypopituitarism

Answer 4

B) acromegaly

– Somatrem is a synthetic form of growth hormone. Acromegaly is caused by excessive growth hormone, and thus this drug would be contraindicated