Cushing's Syndrome and Addison's Disease: Cortisol Excess and Deficiency, Signs, Causes and Nursing Management

A short endocrine deck that first separates Cushing's syndrome, caused from outside the body by treatment such as glucocorticoid therapy, from Cushing's disease caused by excess pituitary ACTH driving the adrenal cortex. The STRESSED mnemonic gives its signs, then the causes and the nursing management. Addison's disease follows as hypo-secretion of aldosterone and cortisol, with its own memory phrase, the tiredness and electrolyte picture, the autoimmune and other causes, nursing management with fludrocortisone replacement and salt intake, and the recognition and emergency treatment of an Addisonian crisis with IV hydrocortisone and dextrose saline.