Conn's Syndrome
This electrolyte imbalance is most commonly seen in patients with Conn syndrome.
The nurse is caring for a patient with Addison’s disease. Which vital sign abnormality should be most closely monitored due to the risk of adrenal insufficiency?
What is Hypotension?
The nurse should assess for this psychological effect that may occur in patients with Cushing’s syndrome due to hormonal imbalances.
What is mood swings, depression, or anxiety?
This hormone regulates a process called gluconeogenesis
This autoimmune disorder involves the destruction of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system, leading to relapsing-remitting episodes of neurological deficits, including vision problems, muscle weakness, and sensory disturbances.
What is multiple sclerosis?
Conn syndrome is most often caused by this type of adrenal tumor.
What is an adrenal adenoma?
During Addisonian crisis treatment, the nurse should continuously monitor for this potentially life-threatening cardiac complication.
What is cardiac arrhythmia due to hyperkalemia?
The nurse explains to the patient that moon face, truncal obesity, and a buffalo hump are caused by prolonged exposure to this hormone.
What is Cortisol?
In Conn syndrome, overproduction of aldosterone leads to this effect on electrolyte balance in the body.
What is increased sodium retention and potassium excretion?
This anemia results from an inability to produce adequate red blood cells due to bone marrow failure, and it often presents with pancytopenia, fatigue, and an increased risk of bleeding.
What is aplastic anemia?
A patient with Conn syndrome typically has increased levels of this hormone and decreased levels of this one.
What is aldosterone (increased)?
Due to the risk of orthostatic hypotension in Addison’s disease, what is one priority nursing intervention?
What is assist with position changes slowly and assess for dizziness/fall risk?
The nurse teaches that excess cortisol weakens bones and increases the risk for this condition, requiring fall precautions at home.
What is osteoporosis?
A patient with Cushing’s syndrome commonly presents with these three visible symptoms due to excess cortisol.
What are moon face, buffalo hump, and truncal obesity?
This chronic inflammatory bowel disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, causing abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss.
What is Crohn’s disease?
After unilateral adrenalectomy, the nurse notes the patient’s blood pressure is dropping and they appear fatigued. This nurse’s priority intervention is needed?
What is to assess for signs of adrenal insufficiency and notify the provider (possible need for corticosteroid replacement)?
During an Addisonian crisis, the nurse anticipates administering these two treatments immediately.
What are IV corticosteroids (e.g., hydrocortisone) and isotonic fluids (e.g., normal saline)?
The nurse’s priority in the immediate postoperative period after adrenalectomy for Cushing’s syndrome is to monitor for this life-threatening condition.
What is adrenal insufficiency or Addisonian crisis?
Cortisol is a powerful anti-inflammatory hormone. In patients with Cushing’s syndrome, prolonged high cortisol levels can lead to this increased risk.
What is infection?
This anemia is caused by chronic blood loss, often from gastrointestinal bleeding or menstruation, and results in microcytic, hypochromic red blood cells.
What is iron-deficiency anemia?
Aldosterone acts on this part of the nephron to increase sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion.
What is the distal convoluted tubule?
After recovering from an Addisonian crisis, the nurse should reinforce the importance of this patient action during future illness, surgery, or stress.
What is adjusting (increasing) steroid dose and contacting a healthcare provider?
To assess pituitary function, the nurse may expect to measure these two hormones that are commonly altered in Cushing’s syndrome caused by a pituitary tumor (Cushing’s disease).
What are ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) and cortisol?
Excessive cortisol in Cushing’s syndrome can lead to this common metabolic condition, resulting from increased glucose production and insulin resistance.
What is hyperglycemia or steroid-induced diabetes?
This movement disorder is linked to the progressive degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the basal ganglia, leading to symptoms like bradykinesia, postural instability, and masked facial expression.
What is Parkinson's disease?