Problem 1: Where are the Adrenal Glands, and what hormones do they secrete?
Problem 2: Define Primary Addison's Disease (otherwise known as Adrenal Insufficiency).
Problem 3: Define Secondary Addison's Disease.
Problem 4: Why is acute adrenal insufficiency considered a life-threatening emergency?
Problem 5: What would the nurse expect to find on physical assessment of a person who is in an Addisonian crisis?
Problem 6: What are the triggers of an Addisonian Crisis?
Problem 7: Choose three prioritized nursing diagnoses for this condition, and list two prioritized nursing/collaborative care interventions for each.
Problem 8: Labs for diagnosis of this condition are (primarily): Plasma cortisol levels, ACTH-stimulatioin test, urine cortisol and aldosterone levels, CT scan, MRI, electrolytes, CBC, blood glucose BUN. The hormones indicated are: cortisol, ACTH, and aldosterone. What does each of these hormones regulate or do in the body?
Problem 9: What medications are used to replace adrenal corticosteroids? How long does the patient have to take these?
Problem 10: If this condition is secondary to a pituitary tumor, what would be the most common treatment?
Problem 11: Define Cushing's Disease.
Problem 12: List three prioritized nursing diagnoses for Cushing's Disease, and list two prioritized nursing/collaborative interventions for each.
Problem 13: Why are the symptoms almost an exact opposite of those for Addison's Disease?
Problem 14; Where is ACTH produced?
Problem 15: How does the ACTH hormone relate to Cushing's Disease?