Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 76%
Simulated
A client diagnosed with Addison's disease is being treated with prednisone. The nurse must educate the patient about which of the following side effects of prednisone? Select all that apply.
Correct answer
A,D,E
Rationale
The correct answer is A, D, E. Prednisone is a corticosteroid that can lead to immunosuppression, increasing the risk for infections (A). It can also cause fluid retention and sodium retention, leading to hypertension (D). Furthermore, prednisone can raise blood sugar levels through gluconeogenesis, resulting in hyperglycemia (E). Choices B and C are incorrect because prednisone typically causes fluid retention, leading to potential hypertension instead of hypotension (B), and it raises blood sugar levels, causing hyperglycemia instead of hypoglycemia (C).