The client has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Which of the following lab values should the nurse monitor to assess for renal function?
Blood glucose level.
Serum creatinine level.
Serum albumin level.
White blood cell count.
The Correct Answer is B
Serum creatinine is a waste product that comes from muscle activity and is normally removed by the kidneys.
When the kidneys are damaged, the serum creatinine level rises.
The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is a measure of how well the kidneys are filtering the blood and it is calculated from the serum creatinine level.
A normal GFR is 60 or more, while a GFR below 60 may indicate kidney disease.
Therefore, monitoring the serum creatinine level and the GFR can help assess the renal function in CKD.
Choice A is wrong because blood glucose level is not a direct indicator of renal function, although high blood glucose can damage the kidneys over time.
Choice C is wrong because serum albumin level is not a specific marker of renal function, although low serum albumin can be caused by protein loss in the urine due to kidney damage.
Choice D is wrong because white blood cell count is not related to renal function, but rather to immune system activity and infection.
Normal ranges for serum creatinine are 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL for men and 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL for women.
Normal ranges for GFR are 90 to 120 mL/min.
Normal ranges for serum albumin are 3.4 to 5.4 g/dL1.
Normal ranges for white blood cell count are 4,000 to 11,000 cells per microliter.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Fluid overload, also called hypervolemia, is a condition in which the body has too much water.
It can cause edema, hypertension, shortness of breath, and cardiovascular problems.
Diuretics are medications that help the body remove excess fluid through urine.
They are commonly used to treat fluid overload caused by heart failure, kidney failure, cirrhosis, and other conditions.
Choice B is wrong because encouraging increased fluid intake would worsen the fluid overload and increase the risk of complications.
Choice C is wrong because providing a high-sodium diet would also worsen the fluid overload and increase the risk of complications.
Sodium is an electrolyte that regulates fluid balance in the body.
Excess sodium intake can cause water retention and increase blood pressure.
Choice D is wrong because elevating the affected extremities is not an appropriate intervention for fluid overload.
Elevating the extremities can help reduce swelling caused by local factors such as injury or inflammation, but it does not address the underlying cause of fluid overload.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Sodium is the major extracellular electrolyte in the body.
It is responsible for maintaining the extracellular fluid volume, and also for regulation of the membrane potential of cells.
Sodium is exchanged along with potassium across cell membranes as part of active transport.
Choice B is wrong because potassium is mainly an intracellular ion.
It is important for nerve and muscle function, but it is not the predominant electrolyte in the extracellular fluid.
Choice C is wrong because calcium is not the major electrolyte in the extracellular fluid.
Calcium is mostly found in bones and teeth, where it forms a mineral reserve with phosphate.
Calcium also plays a role in muscle contraction, blood clotting, and enzyme activity.
Choice D is wrong because magnesium is not the major electrolyte in the extracellular fluid.
Magnesium is mostly found in bones, where it helps to stabilize the structure of ATP2.
Magnesium also participates in enzyme reactions, nerve and muscle function, and protein synthesis.
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