The order is to infuse 50ml of piggyback antibiotic over 1 hour. The set calibration has a microdrip drop factor. What the flow rate in drops per minute?

Choice A reason: White crystals (uremic frost) and yellowish skin in CKD indicate severe uremia due to toxin accumulation from impaired kidney function. Applying medicated lotion addresses skin symptoms but does not treat the underlying uremia, which can lead to life-threatening complications like metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, or encephalopathy. This action is secondary to addressing systemic toxicity through dialysis.

Choice B reason: Elevated BUN, creatinine, and uremic frost signify advanced CKD with uremia, requiring urgent dialysis to remove toxins and excess fluids. Notifying the provider ensures timely intervention to prevent complications such as seizures, coma, or cardiac arrhythmias due to electrolyte imbalances and toxin buildup, making this the priority action for patient safety.

Choice C reason: A cardiac monitor detects arrhythmias, which may occur in CKD due to hyperkalemia or fluid overload. However, monitoring alone does not address the root cause of uremia. Without dialysis to correct metabolic imbalances, arrhythmias may persist or worsen, making this action less urgent than initiating dialysis to stabilize the patient’s condition.

Choice D reason: Assessing a fistula for bruit and thrill ensures vascular access patency for dialysis. While important, it is not the priority when uremic symptoms are present, as dialysis orders must be secured first to address the acute uremic state and prevent life-threatening complications like encephalopathy or cardiac arrest due to toxin accumulation.

Choice A reason: Left-sided flank pain may suggest kidney stones or infection but is not specific to AKI. Pain can occur in various conditions, including pyelonephritis or ureteral obstruction, and does not directly indicate reduced glomerular filtration or oliguria, which are hallmarks of AKI, making it less urgent.

Choice B reason: Blood pressure of 138/86 mm Hg and heart rate of 92 bpm are within normal ranges and not specific to AKI. While hypertension can occur in AKI due to fluid overload, these values do not strongly suggest AKI without other signs like oliguria or lab abnormalities.

Choice C reason: Cloudy urine with sediment and foul odor suggests a urinary tract infection, not necessarily AKI. Infections can coexist with AKI but are not diagnostic. AKI is characterized by reduced urine output and elevated creatinine, not primarily by urine appearance, making this finding less indicative.

Choice D reason: Urine output of 150 mL in 8 hours (450 mL/day) indicates oliguria, a key sign of AKI, where kidneys fail to filter adequately, reducing urine production. This can lead to fluid overload and toxin accumulation, necessitating urgent provider notification to evaluate and manage potential AKI complications like hyperkalemia.