Prioritize the Patient
A diabetic patient with glucose 48 mg/dL and confusion requires this immediate action.
What is Administer fast-acting glucose?
Why is insulin held when potassium is critically low?
What is Insulin drives potassium into cells, worsening hypokalemia?
Sodium 118, urine specific gravity high, decreased serum osmolality indicates this disorder.
What is SIADH?
Key teaching for patients taking levothyroxine.
What is Take on an empty stomach in the morning?
Disorder most commonly caused by autoimmune destruction.
What is Type 1 diabetes?
A post-thyroidectomy patient with stridor requires this first nursing action.
What is Maintain airway and call for help?
Why are beta-blockers used in hyperthyroidism?
What is To control sympathetic symptoms?
Calcium 7.1 mg/dL with muscle spasms indicates this complication.
What is Hypocalcemia?
Major adverse effect to monitor with insulin therapy.
What is Hypoglycemia?
Endocrine disorder often triggered by chronic steroid use.
What is Cushing syndrome?
A patient with suspected adrenal crisis needs this medication immediately.
What is IV hydrocortisone?
Why is metformin held before contrast studies?
What is Risk of lactic acidosis?
pH 7.12, glucose 720, ketones present—diagnosis?
What is DKA?
Patients on long-term corticosteroids are at risk for this complication.
What is Infection?
Disorder commonly seen after thyroid or neck surgery.
What is Hypoparathyroidism?
Which finding in a DKA patient indicates improvement?
What is Closing anion gap?
Why are glucocorticoids tapered slowly?
What is To prevent adrenal crisis?
TSH suppressed with elevated T3/T4 indicates this condition.
What is Hyperthyroidism?
Which insulin cannot be mixed with others?
What is Insulin glargine (Lantus)?
Diabetes emergency most common in older adults with Type 2 diabetes.
What is HHS?
A patient with SIADH and worsening hyponatremia requires which nursing priority?
What is Fluid restriction?
Why does HHS have higher mortality than DKA?
What is Severe dehydration and delayed recognition?
Potassium drops rapidly after insulin therapy—this complication must be monitored.
What is Hypokalemia?
Priority assessment before giving insulin.
What is Blood glucose level?
Life-threatening complication caused by abrupt withdrawal of steroids.
What is Adrenal crisis?