The nurse is administering cortisol to a client. What response should this medication cause?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that is primarily released by the adrenal cortex. Its release is regulated by feedback mechanisms involving the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Cortisol negatively feeds back on the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary, decreasing the secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn leads to a decrease in cortisol secretion. Therefore, the administration of exogenous cortisol would cause a decrease in the secretion of ACTH by the pituitary gland, ultimately leading to a decrease in cortisol secretion due to negative feedback.

The Nurse Is Administering Cortisol to a Client