A client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of adrenal insuf

A client is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency. In preparing to complete the admission history, the nurse anticipates that the client will have experienced:

1. Decreased muscle tone
2. Hypertension
3. Diarrhea
4. Fever

ANSWER

ANS: 3
A cause of hyponatremia is adrenal insufficiency. The client with hyponatremia may experience diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and nausea and vomiting. Decreased muscle tone is a symptom of hypokalemia. A client with adrenal insufficiency is not likely to experience hypertension. Re-sultant hyponatremia with adrenal insufficiency may be exhibited as postural hypotension. Fever is a symptom of hypernatremia, not hyponatremia. Hypernatremia is not caused by adrenal insuf-ficiency.