A nurse is screening clients for adrenal insufficiency. The nurse recognizes that which client is at greatest risk for adrenal insufficiency?
A 19-year-old male on low dose steroids for a week
A 35-year-old female who completed 3 weeks of steroids.
An 80-year-old female who takes steroids daily.
A 45-year old male with COPD who uses intermittent steroids.
The Correct Answer is C
A. A short-term, low-dose steroid use (one week) has minimal risk for adrenal suppression.
B. Three weeks of steroids increases risk, but daily use presents a higher risk.
C. Prolonged daily steroid use, especially in an older adult, poses the greatest risk for adrenal insufficiency due to suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
D. Intermittent steroid use is less likely to cause adrenal insufficiency compared to daily long-term use.
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View Related questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Mastoiditis often results in inflammation and infection that extend to the middle ear, causing the tympanic membrane to appear red, dull, thickened, and immobile upon examination.
B. A transparent and clear tympanic membrane is typical in a healthy ear, not in cases of mastoiditis.
C. A pearly colored tympanic membrane is also indicative of a normal, healthy ear without infection.
D. A pink-colored tympanic membrane may suggest mild irritation but is not a characteristic finding of mastoiditis.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Hypotension is not typically associated with adrenal cortex hyperfunction; in fact, patients may experience hypertension due to excess cortisol and aldosterone.
B. Dehydration is more common with adrenal insufficiency than hyperfunction, as excess hormone production often leads to fluid retention.
C. Hyponatremia is generally not a concern with adrenal cortex hyperfunction; clients may experience hypernatremia instead due to fluid retention.
D. Hypokalemia is a significant risk in clients with adrenal cortex hyperfunction, especially due to the effects of excessive aldosterone, which promotes sodium retention and potassium excretion.