Which nursing intervention is part of care after unilateral adrenalectomy?

• A. Offer a high-sodium diet.
• B. Encourage saliva-inducing agents.
• C. Wear a medical alert bracelet.
• D. Administer temporary glucocorticoid replacement therapy.

Answer: (D)

After removing one adrenal gland, the body may not immediately meet the cortisol needs required to handle stress and maintain vascular tone. Administering temporary glucocorticoid replacement therapy helps prevent adrenal crisis and supports blood pressure, glucose, and overall stress response during the recovery period. The remaining adrenal gland can take time to resume full function, so steroids are given to bridge that gap and then tapered as function returns. The other options don’t address the immediate hormonal support needed after surgery: a high-sodium diet isn’t an automatic postoperative measure, saliva-inducing agents are unrelated to adrenal function, and while a medical alert bracelet is useful for long-term management, the key nursing intervention in the immediate postoperative period is hormone replacement therapy.