Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 77%
Full-length
The nurse cares for a client receiving fludrocortisone acetate for the treatment of Addison's disease. When monitoring the client for improvement, what anticipated therapeutic effect of this medication will the nurse focus on?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
Fludrocortisone acetate is a long-acting oral medication with mineralocorticoid and moderate glucocorticoid activity that may be used for long-term management of Addison's disease. Mineralocorticoids act on the renal distal tubules to enhance the reabsorption of sodium and chloride ions and the excretion of potassium and hydrogen ions. The client can rapidly develop hypotension and fluid and electrolyte imbalance if the medication is discontinued abruptly. The medication does not affect the immune response or thyroid or thyrotropin production.