Question

A 62-yr-old female patient has been hospitalized for 4 days with acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by dehydration. Which information will be most important for the nurse to report to the health care provider?

A. The creatinine level is 3.0 mg/dL.
B. Urine output over an 8-hour period is 2500 mL.
C. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level is 67 mg/dL.
D. The glomerular filtration rate is less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m^2.

Answer 1

The most crucial information to report is the glomerular filtration rate being less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m^2, indicating severe kidney impairment or potential failure, which is critical in the diagnosis and staging of kidney disease.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most important information to report to the health care provider for a patient hospitalized with acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by dehydration would be D. The glomerular filtration rate is less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m2.

This is because a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 indicates chronic kidney disease, and a GFR below 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 is indicative of severe renal impairment or failure. It suggests loss of half or more of the adult level of normal kidney function and potential complications. In the context of AKI, a low GFR may indicate a progression towards renal failure and is a critical value to report immediately.

While elevated creatinine levels and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels are also significant, and a high urine output over an 8-hour period could be indicative of polyuria, the GFR is a more direct measure of kidney function and is important for staging the severity of kidney disease.