What would the nurse expect to assess in a client who has been taking long-term corticosteroid replacement therapy?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.
1. Fasting blood glucose level 150 mg/dL
2. Reduced muscle mass
3. Elevated blood lipid levels
4. History of pathological fractures
5. Serum potassium level 5.0 mg/dL
Correct Answer: 1,2,3,4
Rationale 1: Corticosteroids have a hyperglycemic effect and increase the blood glucose level.
Rationale 2: Corticosteroids increase the breakdown of proteins to amino acids. Amino acids are then converted to glucose and glycogen in the liver, resulting in protein depletion.
Rationale 3: Corticosteroids increase the breakdown of lipids.
Rationale 4: Corticosteroids increase the breakdown of bony matrix, resulting in bone demineralization, which can cause pathological fractures.
Rationale 5: Corticosteroids do not increase the serum potassium level.
Global Rationale: Corticosteroids have a hyperglycemic effect and increase the blood glucose level. Corticosteroids increase the breakdown of proteins to amino acids. Amino acids are then converted to glucose and glycogen in the liver, resulting in protein depletion. They also increase the breakdown of lipids and cause bone demineralization. They do not increase serum potassium.
You might also like to view...
The type of reasoning that is similar to putting together a puzzle without seeing the whole picture is:
1. Deductive reasoning. 2. Inductive reasoning. 3. Interpretive reasoning. 4. Purposeful reasoning.
To evaluate the effectiveness of atorvastatin (Lipitor®) in reducing the risk of heart disease, the nurse would expect to see:
A) higher serum total cholesterol levels. B) lower serum HDL levels. C) lower serum LDL levels. D) higher serum triglyceride levels.
Who might be most at risk for an infectious disease?
A. The woman who has been taking antituberculosis (TB) medication for 3 months B. The 85-year-old woman who recently emigrated with her much younger family from Asia and currently spends her days in an unlicensed senior day care center C. A full-time nurse at the local public health clinic D. A volunteer nurse aide at the STD clinic
The nurse is caring for a critically ill patient who has developed tolerance to an opioid medication used for pain control. As the dose of the opioid is increased, the nurse observes the patient closely for respiratory depression
If the patient has developed tolerance to the opioid, what effect on the respiratory system does the nurse expect? A) None B) Depression C) Stimulation D) Exacerbation