A patient is being admitted with a diagnosis of Cushing syndrome. Which findings will the nurse expect during the assessment?

Choice A reason: Urine dipstick for glucose is not a reliable test to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for type 2 diabetes. Urine glucose testing can only detect glucose in the urine when the blood glucose level is very high, above the renal threshold of 180 mg/dL. Urine glucose testing does not reflect the average blood glucose level over time, and can be affected by factors such as hydration, medication, and urinary tract infections.

Choice B reason: Fasting blood glucose is a test that measures the blood glucose level after an overnight fast of at least 8 hours. Fasting blood glucose is a useful test to diagnose diabetes, but it is not the best test to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for type 2 diabetes. Fasting blood glucose only reflects the blood glucose level at one point in time, and can vary depending on the time of day, the amount and type of food eaten, and the activity level.

Choice C reason: Oral glucose tolerance is a test that measures the blood glucose level before and after drinking a solution containing 75 g of glucose. Oral glucose tolerance is another test that can diagnose diabetes, but it is not the most convenient or accurate test to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for type 2 diabetes. Oral glucose tolerance requires the patient to fast for at least 8 hours, drink the glucose solution, and have blood samples taken at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. Oral glucose tolerance can also be influenced by factors such as stress, illness, medication, and menstrual cycle.

Choice D reason: Glycosylated hemoglobin (Hemoglobin A1C) is a test that measures the percentage of hemoglobin that has glucose attached to it. Hemoglobin is a protein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen. Red blood cells have a lifespan of about 120 days, so the hemoglobin A1C test reflects the average blood glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months. Hemoglobin A1C is the best test to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for type 2 diabetes, as it shows how well the blood glucose level has been controlled over time, and is not affected by factors such as fasting, food intake, or daily fluctuations.

Choice A reason: This statement is false. 3% Sodium Chloride is a hypertonic solution that can cause fluid overload, hypernatremia, and cellular dehydration. It is not indicated for a patient with nausea, vomiting, and Salmonella infection, who is likely to have fluid and electrolyte losses.

Choice B reason: This statement is false. Dextrose 10% in water is a hypotonic solution that can cause fluid shifts, hyponatremia, and cellular edema. It is not indicated for a patient with nausea, vomiting, and Salmonella infection, who is likely to have fluid and electrolyte losses.

Choice C reason: This statement is true. 0.9% Sodium Chloride with 40 mEq Potassium (KCl) is an isotonic solution that can maintain fluid and electrolyte balance. It is indicated for a patient with nausea, vomiting, and Salmonella infection, who is likely to have fluid and electrolyte losses, especially sodium and potassium.

Choice D reason: This statement is false. Lactated Ringers is an isotonic solution that can maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, but it also contains lactate, which can be converted to bicarbonate in the liver. It is not indicated for a patient with nausea, vomiting, and Salmonella infection, who may have metabolic acidosis due to diarrhea and lactate accumulation.