A visitor from Poland who does not speak English seems to be ...

[kodithompson]

A visitor from Poland who does not speak English seems to be somewhat apprehensive about the nurse examining his neck. He would probably be more comfortable with the nurse examining his thyroid gland from:
 
  a. Behind with the nurse's hands placed firmly around his neck.
  b. The side with the nurse's eyes averted toward the ceiling and thumbs on his neck.
  c. The front with the nurse's thumbs placed on either side of his trachea and his head tilted forward.
  d. The front with the nurse's thumbs placed on either side of his trachea and his head tilted backward.

Question 2

The nurse suspects that a patient has hyperthyroidism, and the laboratory data indicate that the patient's T4 and T3 hormone levels are elevated. Which of these findings would the nurse most likely find on examination?
 
  a. Tachycardia
  b. Constipation
  c. Rapid dyspnea
  d. Atrophied nodular thyroid gland

[babybsemail]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Examining this patient's thyroid gland from the back may be unsettling for him. It would be best to examine his thyroid gland using the anterior approach, asking him to tip his head forward and to the right and then to the left.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
T4 and T3 are thyroid hormones that stimulate the rate of cellular metabolism, resulting in tachycardia. With an enlarged thyroid gland as in hyperthyroidism, the nurse might expect to find diffuse enlargement (goiter) or a nodular lump but not an atrophied gland. Dyspnea and constipation are not findings associated with hyperthyroidism.