After providing education to a patient who is scheduled for a unilateral adrenalectomy, the nurse identifies that which statement by the patient indicates that the teaching was effective?

After providing education to a patient who is scheduled for a unilateral adrenalectomy, the nurse identifies that which statement by the patient indicates that the teaching was effective?

• A. I will still have one adrenal gland left.
• B. I will need dialysis after surgery.
• C. Both adrenal glands will be removed.
• D. I will require a kidney transplant.

Answer: (A)

Understanding what a unilateral adrenalectomy does is key: removing one adrenal gland leaves the other one in place to continue producing essential hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. That means the patient should grasp that they will still have adrenal function from the remaining gland, and lifelong replacement therapy isn’t typically needed unless the remaining gland fails. Dialysis and kidney transplant aren’t related to adrenal removal, and removing both adrenal glands would cause adrenal insufficiency requiring lifelong hormone replacement. So the statement that they will still have one adrenal gland left shows the correct understanding of the procedure.

Understanding what a unilateral adrenalectomy does is key: removing one adrenal gland leaves the other one in place to continue producing essential hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. That means the patient should grasp that they will still have adrenal function from the remaining gland, and lifelong replacement therapy isn’t typically needed unless the remaining gland fails. Dialysis and kidney transplant aren’t related to adrenal removal, and removing both adrenal glands would cause adrenal insufficiency requiring lifelong hormone replacement. So the statement that they will still have one adrenal gland left shows the correct understanding of the procedure.