CRNE Exam Prep

Category - Changes in Health

A physician orders corticosteroid therapy to a female client with Addison’s disease. The nurse informs the client that steroid administration can lead to a number of side effects. The nurse lists all of the following as common side effects of corticosteroids EXCEPT:
  1. Water retention
  2. Hypokalemia
  3. Osteoporosis
  4. Hypoglycemia
Explanation
Answer: D - Hypoglycemia is not a common side effect of corticosteroids. Corticosteroids can increase your blood sugar. Corticosteroids retain sodium and water and excrete potassium, causing water retention and hypokalemia, respectively. Corticosteroids increase blood glucose, causing hyperglycemia. Research has shown that calcium absorption and osteoblast function are negatively affected by corticosteroid use, increasing the risk for osteoporosis.
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