Which action would the nurse take first when a patient with Cushing disease reports a weight loss of 5lbs?

Which action would the nurse take first when a patient with Cushing disease reports a weight loss of 5lbs?

• A. Weigh the patient.
• B. Measure lumbar circumference.
• C. Check temperature.
• D. Assess appetite

Answer: (A)

Quantifying a reported weight change with an objective measure is the first step. When a patient with Cushing disease reports losing weight, the nurse should obtain an actual weight to document the change, determine its significance, and establish a baseline for monitoring treatment response or potential complications. This objective data helps distinguish transient fluctuations from meaningful trends and guides decisions about hydration status, nutrition, and further assessment. Weighing the patient provides precise, recordable data and should be done with consistency (same scale, same clothing, after voiding, ideally at the same time of day) to ensure accuracy. Measuring lumbar circumference can reveal fat distribution changes but does not quantify the reported weight loss. Checking temperature might help detect infection or other illness that could cause weight loss, but it does not address the reported change directly. Assessing appetite offers useful insight into potential causes, but it is subjective and does not establish the actual amount of weight lost.

Quantifying a reported weight change with an objective measure is the first step. When a patient with Cushing disease reports losing weight, the nurse should obtain an actual weight to document the change, determine its significance, and establish a baseline for monitoring treatment response or potential complications. This objective data helps distinguish transient fluctuations from meaningful trends and guides decisions about hydration status, nutrition, and further assessment.

Weighing the patient provides precise, recordable data and should be done with consistency (same scale, same clothing, after voiding, ideally at the same time of day) to ensure accuracy. Measuring lumbar circumference can reveal fat distribution changes but does not quantify the reported weight loss. Checking temperature might help detect infection or other illness that could cause weight loss, but it does not address the reported change directly. Assessing appetite offers useful insight into potential causes, but it is subjective and does not establish the actual amount of weight lost.