Bachelor Nursing Assignment

Running head: BACHELOR NURSING ASSIGNMENT 1
Bachelor Nursing Assignment
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Date

BACHELOR NURSING ASSIGNMENT 2
Q1. Outline the Disease, Causes, Incidence and Risk Factors. Discuss the Impact of the
Exogenous Cushing’s Syndrome on the Patient and Their Family
Ms Maurine Smith is suffering from Exogenous Cushing's Syndrome. According to
Jarvis et al. (2016). The disease is caused by prolonged exposure to cortisol hormone that is
overproduced from the adrenal glands. Besides, the cortisol may be produced by use of cortisol-
like medications such as prednisolone or tumour that activate the adrenal glands to overproduce
cortisol hormone. On the other hand, Exogenous Cushing’s Syndrome may be as a result of after
medication of diseases such as pituitary adenoma. Other various tumours also cause Cushing’s
syndrome whereby some are associated with inherited disorders such as Carney complex.
Moreover, Cushing’s syndrome risk of infection may be increased by other factors such
as long term taking of corticosteroid medications and type 2 diabetes and poor regulation of
blood glucose levels that may lead to hypertension and blood sugar. Also, Nursing and
Midwifery Board of Australia (2016) illustrates that pituitary gland tumour, ectopic ACTH-
secreting tumour which is an organ that causes abnormality in the production of ACTH hormone
that is responsible for cortisol regulation and primary adrenal gland disease consist of other
significant factors responsible for Exogenous Cushing's Syndrome infections.
A research conducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2018) illustrates
that Cushing's syndrome is sporadic with an incidence of less than one case per year over a
million people. However, pituitary gland infections are in 1 out of the six individuals. Although
researches show a low incidence of exogenous Cushing's syndrome, there are more patients with
uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension.
According to Berman (2014), avoidance in the treatment of exogenous Cushing's
syndrome may lead to other effects such as bone loss. Loss of bones reduces the Body Mass

BACHELOR NURSING ASSIGNMENT 3
Index (BMI) of an individual to abnormal. Besides, exogenous Cushing’s syndrome may lead to
bone fractures as a result of the general body weakness and muscle loss. Consequently,
exogenous Cushing’s syndrome disease leads to high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes
infections that put the patient at high risk of other associated infections (Farrell and Dempsey,
2016). Lastly, the disease results in effects such as the enlargement of the pituitary tumour of the
patient and kidney stone a condition that causes instability in glucose balance within the patient's
body. By interfering with the pituitary glands due to exogenous Cushing's syndrome, other
hormone production within the body also interferes.
Extensive research conducted by Berman (2017) indicates that the patients suffering from
exogenous Cushing’s syndrome suffered from emotional, mental and physical effects. Besides,
the analysis illustrates that the results were extended to family members as well as their
performance at work and school. For instance, Maureen' s work at the restaurant can be
significantly affected by the disease she is suffering from since she cannot perform the tasks
assigned correctly while having fatigue or depression. On the other hand, while seeking for
medication, it means that Maureen will stop attending the nursing classes regularly. The family
members such as the husband should also incur the costs of treatment of his spouse and as well
pay attention to the patient while abandoning other tasks he might be having.
Q2. Discuss Three (3) Common Signs and Symptoms of Exogenous Cushing’s Syndrome
and Explain the Underlying Pathophysiology of Each
Symptom Underlying Pathophysiology
1. The patient experiences weight gain
around the trunk and waist. Besides,
there is also the loss of fats in the legs
1. Fats accumulated in the mid-section of
the patient's face leads to a rounded
face or a moon-shaped face.

BACHELOR NURSING ASSIGNMENT 4
and arms. The lost fats are deposited
in the mid-section of the patient’s
body (McCance and Huether, 2014).
Furthermore, fat deposits also
experienced in the shoulders and the
back causing a buffalo hump.
Similarly, fat accumulation may lead
to narrowing of veins and arteries, a
condition that limits efficient blood
flow leading to increased blood
pressure together with sodium
concentrations and low water
retention.
2. The patient’s pituitary gland secretes
too much ACTH hormone. ACTH
hormone in excess corresponds to
overproduction of excess cortisol
hormone from the adrenal gland that is
responsible for stress.
2. The patient may experience headache
and anxiety. Besides the patient may
experience increased depression and
similarly dysfunction in cognitive
(McCance and Huether, 2014). Stress
also puts the patient at high risk of
other disease infection such as
hypertension. Thus, low water
concentrations, sodium and potassium
accumulations that increase the blood
pressure of the patient. Increase in the
patient's blood pressure makes even
movements difficult therefore easy fat