A nurse is monitoring a client who has acute kidney injury (AKI). Which of the following laboratory findings should the nurse expect?

Choice A reason: In acute kidney injury (AKI), the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level is expected to be elevated due to the kidneys' impaired ability to excrete urea, which is a waste product of protein metabolism. Normal BUN levels range from approximately 7 to 20 mg/dL.

Choice B reason: Hypercalcemia is not commonly associated with AKI. Instead, patients with AKI may experience hypocalcemia due to the kidneys' reduced ability to convert vitamin D to its active form, which is necessary for calcium absorption.

Choice C reason: Metabolic alkalosis is not a typical finding in AKI. More commonly, patients with AKI experience metabolic acidosis because the kidneys are unable to excrete acid effectively, leading to an accumulation of acid in the body.

Choice D reason: Hypokalemia is generally not expected in AKI. The condition is more often associated with hyperkalemia, as the impaired kidney function leads to a reduced excretion of potassium, which can accumulate to dangerous levels.

Choice A reason: While fiber is important in a diet, recommending at least 45 g per day does not specifically address the needs of a patient with diabetic nephropathy.

Choice B reason: Consuming less than 0.8 g/kg of body weight of protein per day is recommended for patients with diabetic nephropathy to reduce the workload on the kidneys.

Choice C reason: Limiting cholesterol intake to 300 mg per day is a general recommendation for heart health but is not specific to diabetic nephropathy dietary management.

Choice D reason: The recommendation to consume less than 45% of total calories from carbohydrates is not specific to diabetic nephropathy, and carbohydrate needs can vary based on individual energy requirements.