The nurse is conducting a physical assessment with a patient. ...

[CharlieWard]

The nurse is conducting a physical assessment with a patient. Which assessment technique should the nurse use to assess the patient's thyroid gland?
 
  1. Stand behind the patient and palpate the thyroid.
  2. Stand in front of the patient and palpate the thyroid.
  3. Place the patient supine and palpate one side of the neck at a time.
  4. Have the patient flex the neck forward and palpate the thyroid.

Question 2

During an endocrine assessment, the nurse asks a patient about changes in weight. For which organs is the nurse assessing function in the patient?
 
  Select all that apply.
  1. adrenal
  2. thyroid
  3. pituitary
  4. parathyroid
  5. gonads

[mcni194]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 1
The thyroid is palpated by standing behind the patient and placing the fingers on each side of the trachea below the thyroid, and asking the patient to swallow to palpate the right lobe. Repeat the procedure, tilting the neck to the left. The nurse has better access to the thyroid from a posterior approach than from the anterior aspect. Placing the patient supine would not permit the nurse to have full access to the neck. Flexing the neck forward could occlude the airway if a mass were present.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 1, 2, 3
Disorders of the adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary glands can result in weight changes in patients with disorders of these glands. The patient might gain weight with an adrenal disorder because of fluid retention, or with thyroid disease, such as hypothyroidism. The patient may lose weight with hyperthyroidism. The pituitary gland controls antidiuretic hormone, which influences the renal tubules to absorb water. The parathyroid gland regulates calcium and phosphorous, whereas the gonads influence estrogen and androgens.