Question

A home health nurse is assessing a client who requires lifelong hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of hypothyroidism. The client has not been taking the medication regularly. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Answer 1

If a client with hypothyroidism is not taking the medication regularly, the nurse should expect to see symptoms related to underactive thyroid function.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland is underactive, resulting in insufficient levels of thyroid hormones. One of the main treatments for hypothyroidism is hormone replacement therapy, where the missing thyroid hormone is replaced with medication. If a client with hypothyroidism is not taking the medication regularly, the nurse should expect to see symptoms related to underactive thyroid function. These symptoms can include fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, slow heart rate, constipation, poor memory, and hearing problems.