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:
Bradycardia, or a heart rate that is slower than normal, is not a common finding in anemia. Anemia typically results in a compensatory increase in heart rate, known as tachycardia, to maintain adequate oxygen delivery to tissues.
Choice B reason:
Diarrhea is not a direct symptom of anemia. While it can be a postoperative complication due to various reasons, such as medication side effects or infections, it is not a symptom associated with anemia resulting from excess blood loss.
Choice C reason:
Fatigue is a hallmark symptom of anemia, regardless of the cause. When anemia is due to excess blood loss, the body's oxygen-carrying capacity is diminished due to the reduced number of red blood cells. This leads to fatigue, as tissues and organs receive less oxygen than is needed for optimal function.
Choice D reason:
Hypertension is not typically associated with anemia. In fact, anemia can sometimes lead to hypotension, or low blood pressure, because of the reduced volume of red blood cells in the circulatory system.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason:
Applying a foot plate to the bed is not primarily intended to prevent pressure points from developing around the edges of the splint. A foot plate can help in maintaining proper alignment and preventing foot drop, but it does not address the issue of pressure points caused by the splint.
Choice B reason:
Repositioning the client is a key intervention to prevent pressure points. By changing the client's position regularly, the nurse can ensure that no single area is under prolonged pressure, which could lead to skin breakdown and pressure sores. This is particularly important in clients with limited mobility due to skeletal traction.
Choice C reason:
Removing the weights for a few minutes each hour is not a standard practice for preventing pressure points in balanced skeletal traction. The weights are integral to maintaining the necessary pull on the fractured femur, and their removal could disrupt the traction setup and potentially affect fracture healing.
Choice D reason:
Applying lotion to the skin under the edges of the splint is not recommended as it could soften the skin and make it more susceptible to injury. Instead, padding and proper positioning are used to protect the skin from the hard edges of the splint.