What is the priority of care for a patient with Cushing's syndrome?
Administering corticosteroid medications
Assessing for signs of infection
Providing emotional support
Monitoring blood glucose levels
The Correct Answer is B
A. Administering corticosteroid medications is incorrect. In Cushing's syndrome, the body already has excess cortisol, either due to endogenous overproduction or prolonged corticosteroid use. The priority is to reduce cortisol levels, not increase them.
B. Assessing for signs of infection is correct. Excess cortisol suppresses the immune system, making patients with Cushing's syndrome highly susceptible to infections. These infections may not present with typical signs (e.g., fever) due to immune suppression, so vigilant assessment is a priority to prevent complications.
C. Providing emotional support is important, as patients may experience body image issues and mood changes, but it is not the immediate priority when life-threatening complications like infection are possible.
D. Monitoring blood glucose levels is also important, since hyperglycemia is common due to cortisol’s effects on glucose metabolism. However, infection risk poses a more immediate threat to patient safety, making infection assessment the top priority.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Airway patency is the priority to monitor following a thyroidectomy. The surgical site is close to the neck and airway, and there is a risk of postoperative complications such as swelling, bleeding, or the formation of a hematoma that could compromise the airway. Immediate attention to airway management is crucial to ensure that the client can breathe freely and maintain adequate oxygenation.
B. Urination is important to monitor postoperatively, but it is not the immediate priority following a thyroidectomy. Urination can be affected by fluid balance or medications, but ensuring airway patency takes precedence over urinary output.
C. Temperature is important to monitor as it can indicate infection or other complications, but airway concerns are more urgent immediately following thyroid surgery. Fever can be managed once the airway is secure.
D. Pain control is necessary for comfort and recovery, but pain is not the most urgent concern in the immediate postoperative period compared to airway patency. Pain management can be addressed after ensuring the client’s airway is clear and safe.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Peritonitis is an infection of the peritoneum, typically associated with peritoneal dialysis, not hemodialysis. Symptoms would usually include fever, abdominal pain, and cloudy dialysate rather than headache, nausea, and restlessness.
B. Air embolism is a rare but serious complication of hemodialysis caused by air entering the bloodstream. Symptoms would include chest pain, hypotension, and shortness of breath, not headache, nausea, and restlessness.
C. Dialysis disequilibrium is the correct answer. This complication occurs when there is a rapid change in blood chemistry during hemodialysis, particularly in those with acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease. The symptoms—headache, nausea, restlessness, confusion, and even seizures—are a result of the rapid reduction in blood urea levels and the shift of fluid and electrolytes in the body.
D. Septicemia refers to a blood infection and is associated with symptoms like fever, chills, hypotension, and tachycardia. While it is a potential complication of dialysis, the described symptoms of headache, nausea, and restlessness are more consistent with dialysis disequilibrium.
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