A nurse is reviewing the BUN and creatinine levels of an older adult patient with chronic kidney disease. The nurse should anticipate which of the following findings?
BUN 8 mg/dL and creatinine 0.7 mg/dL
BUN 45 mg/dL and creatinine 8 mg/dL
BUN 23 mg/dL and creatinine 1.0 mg/dL
BUN 10 mg/dL and creatinine 0.3 mg/dL
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason:
A BUN level of 8 mg/dL and a creatinine level of 0.7 mg/dL are within normal ranges for a healthy individual without kidney disease. In chronic kidney disease (CKD), we would expect these values to be elevated due to the kidneys' reduced ability to filter waste products from the blood.
Choice B reason:
A BUN level of 45 mg/dL and a creatinine level of 8 mg/dL are significantly higher than the normal range, which is consistent with impaired kidney function seen in CKD. These elevated levels indicate that the kidneys are not effectively filtering urea and creatinine from the blood, leading to their accumulation.
Choice C reason:
A BUN level of 23 mg/dL and a creatinine level of 1.0 mg/dL could be seen in the early stages of CKD. While the creatinine level is within the normal range, the BUN level is slightly elevated, which may suggest a decline in kidney function.
Choice D reason:
A BUN level of 10 mg/dL and a creatinine level of 0.3 mg/dL are both below the normal range. This is an unlikely finding for a patient with CKD, as kidney impairment typically leads to increased levels of these substances in the blood.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Hemodialysis does not typically result in a significant decrease in RBC count. While there can be a minimal loss of red blood cells during the process, it is not the primary focus of the treatment. The main purpose of hemodialysis is to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys are not functioning properly.
Choice B reason:
Calcium levels may vary during hemodialysis, and the treatment can be adjusted to prevent significant changes in calcium levels. Hemodialysis can remove some calcium from the blood, but it is usually not the most affected value, and calcium can be added to the dialysate solution if necessary.
Choice C reason:
Potassium is one of the primary electrolytes removed during hemodialysis. High levels of potassium, which can be life-threatening, are commonly seen in clients with renal failure. Hemodialysis effectively reduces high potassium levels, which is crucial for preventing complications such as cardiac arrhythmias.
Choice D reason:
Protein levels are not directly targeted by hemodialysis, and significant protein loss is not a usual outcome of the treatment. The dialysis membrane is designed to allow smaller molecules like urea and potassium to pass through while retaining larger molecules like proteins.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Kernig's sign is associated with meningitis and is not related to the symptoms of tingling sensations that can occur after a subtotal thyroidectomy. This sign is elicited by extending the client's leg at the knee while the hip is flexed, which would not be relevant in this case.
Choice B reason:
Brudzinski's sign is another indicator of meningitis and involves involuntary flexion of the hips and knees when attempting to flex the client's neck. Similar to Kernig's sign, it is not pertinent to the postoperative symptoms of a subtotal thyroidectomy.
Choice C reason:
Chvostek's sign is a clinical sign of existing neuromuscular irritability seen in hypocalcemia, which can occur after thyroid surgery due to accidental removal or damage to the parathyroid glands. Tapping on the facial nerve triggers twitching of the facial muscles, which correlates with the tingling sensations reported by the client.
Choice D reason:
Babinski's sign is used to assess neurological function, particularly of the central nervous system, and is not related to the symptoms of hypocalcemia. It involves stroking the sole of the foot to observe the toes' movements, which would not provide information about the tingling sensations the client is experiencing.
