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DHA Endocrine & Diabetes Nursing Practice Questions
Diabetes is one of the most heavily tested topics for Gulf nurses. Expect hypoglycaemia, DKA, insulin safety and thyroid and adrenal emergencies. Below are 5 free sample questions for the DHA Registered Nurse exam, each with the answer and a rationale.
What this topic covers
- Hypoglycaemia recognition and treatment
- DKA vs HHS
- Insulin types, timing and injection technique
- Sick-day rules and Ramadan fasting safety
- Thyroid storm and post-thyroidectomy care
- Adrenal crisis, SIADH and diabetes insipidus
The full bank has 91 endocrine & diabetes nursing questions, part of 1,500 questions across 16 nursing topics.
Free DHA endocrine & diabetes nursing questions
1. What is the main reason for rotating insulin injection sites?
- A. To prevent lipohypertrophy and maintain consistent absorption
- B. To reduce the total daily dose of insulin needed
- C. To speed up the onset of long-acting insulin
- D. To avoid the need for glucose monitoring
Show answer and rationale
Repeated injections into the same spot cause lipohypertrophy (fatty lumps), which leads to erratic insulin absorption. Rotating within and between sites preserves healthy tissue.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – insulin therapy
2. Which finding is expected in a patient with diabetes insipidus?
- A. Small volumes of concentrated urine
- B. Oliguria with peripheral oedema
- C. Large volumes of dilute urine with a low specific gravity
- D. Glucose present in the urine
Show answer and rationale
Lack of ADH (or kidney resistance to it) prevents water reabsorption, causing polyuria of dilute urine (specific gravity often below 1.005), thirst and a risk of hypernatraemia. Glycosuria is a feature of diabetes mellitus, not insipidus.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – diabetes insipidus
3. When checking the dressing of a patient after thyroidectomy, where should the nurse also look for bleeding?
- A. Around the patient's ears
- B. Behind the neck and on the pillow
- C. On the patient's chest below the clavicles
- D. On the lower back
Show answer and rationale
Blood tends to drain by gravity to the back of the neck, so the nurse checks behind the neck and the pillow as well as the front dressing. Unnoticed bleeding can form a haematoma that compresses the airway.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – thyroidectomy
4. Which finding best distinguishes hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) from diabetic ketoacidosis?
- A. Presence of Kussmaul respirations and fruity breath
- B. Very high glucose and osmolality with little or no ketosis
- C. Severe metabolic acidosis with a low bicarbonate
- D. Rapid onset over a few hours in a young adult
Show answer and rationale
HHS features extreme hyperglycaemia, high serum osmolality and profound dehydration, but there is enough insulin to prevent significant ketosis and acidosis. Kussmaul breathing, marked acidosis and rapid onset are features of DKA.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state
5. A patient with severe hyponatraemia from SIADH is receiving hypertonic saline. Why must the nurse ensure the sodium is not corrected too rapidly?
- A. To prevent osmotic demyelination syndrome
- B. To prevent thyroid storm
- C. To prevent hyperkalaemia
- D. To prevent hypoglycaemia
Show answer and rationale
Correcting chronic hyponatraemia too quickly causes water to shift out of brain cells, which can lead to osmotic demyelination with severe, often permanent neurological damage. Sodium levels are therefore checked frequently during treatment.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – hyponatraemia
Study tip
If a diabetic patient is confused or sweaty, check the blood glucose first. Treating hypoglycaemia comes before almost everything else.
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