Final answer:
The nurse should expect to find symptoms of hypothyroidism in the client, such as hypotension. Hypothyroidism is characterized by fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, and a slow heart rate. Other symptoms like significant weight loss, persistent diarrhea, and tachycardia are associated with hyperthyroidism, not hypothyroidism.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a home health nurse is assessing a client who requires lifelong hormone replacement therapy for the treatment of hypothyroidism and the client has not been taking the medication regularly, the nurse would expect to find symptoms consistent with hypothyroidism due to the insufficient levels of thyroid hormone. One of the symptoms of untreated or inadequately treated hypothyroidism could be hypotension (D), which is low blood pressure. This is because hypothyroidism can lead to a decrease in the heart rate and the strength of the heart's contractions, which can subsequently reduce blood pressure.
Other symptoms the nurse might expect include fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance. These symptoms align with the known signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism such as abnormal weight gain, tiredness, and slow heart rate which are highlighted in the provided reference.
- Weight gain
- Tiredness
- Cold intolerance
- Slow heart rate
Options A (Significant weight loss), B (Persistent diarrhea), and C (Tachycardia) are typically associated with hyperthyroidism, the opposite condition where there is an excessive amount of thyroid hormone.