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
Metabolic acidosis is a condition in which there is excess acid in the body fluids.
It causes rapid breathing, confusion, tiredness, headache, and increased heart rate.
Rapid breathing is a compensatory mechanism that helps to lower the carbon dioxide levels and increase the pH of the blood.
Choice B is wrong because decreased respiratory rate would worsen the acidosis by retaining more carbon dioxide and lowering the pH of the blood.
Choice C is wrong because normal respiratory rate would not be adequate to compensate for the metabolic acidosis and would result in acidemia (low blood pH).
Choice D is wrong because irregular respiratory rate is not a typical response to metabolic acidosis and could indicate other problems such as brain injury or drug overdose.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
This is the only solution that is isotonic and compatible with blood products. It will not cause hemolysis or clotting of the blood cells.
Choice B is wrong because lactated Ringer’s is a balanced electrolyte solution that contains calcium, which can cause clotting of the blood cells.
Choice C is wrong because 5% dextrose is a hypotonic solution that can cause hemolysis of the blood cells.
Choice D is wrong because 5% dextrose in 0.45% sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution that can cause hemolysis of the blood cells.
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