A 17-year-old patient presents to the ER with complaints of increased thirst and urination over 2 days. The doctor orders a urinalysis and basic metabolic panel. The nurse collects a brief history from the patient and is told about a "blow to the head" during football practice 3 days earlier. Based on this information, the nurse knows what statement regarding this patient is true?

Explanation

•Secondary diabetes insipidus may occur as a result of trauma or a pathologic condition of the posterior pituitary that causes a decrease in the secretion of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH).

•Decreased amounts of ADH will cause increased water loss through the urine with large amounts of very dilute urine and increased thirst related to the correlated dehydration that occurs.

Visit our website for other NCLEX topics now!