Dynamic Investigations and Diagnostic Testing

The evaluation of pituitary function is complex and critical. Pituitary dysfunction causes a wide range of physical, emotional, social, and potentially spiritual changes, all of which compound the process of evaluation. Patient and family anxieties are heightened given either symptoms of unknown etiology or a new discovery of a “brain tumor, " which can influence testing outcomes and requires nursing expertise in management. Infants and children are affected by pituitary dysfunction that can present with lifethreatening symptoms and parents in need of significant support. Both issues pose a challenge to the endocrine nurse involved in the child’s evaluation. Most testing is not emergent and appropriate patient and parent preparation with attention to factors that can invalidate testing is vital. Explanations and/or literature provided to the patient and family must be age and language appropriate. There is a broad range of diagnostic techniques that may be employed in diagnosis and ongoing patient management for patients with pituitary diseases. Knowledge of the testing purpose, procedure, and result interpretation is essential for the endocrine nurse performing testing and advance practice nursing for long-term patient management.