Study 5 Complications and Integrated Practice with 12 free online flashcards. Review key terms, definitions, and concepts with this interactive flashcard deck.
What should be assessed first when acute kidney injury may be causing an emergency?
Airway, breathing, circulation, mental status, vital signs, and oxygenation. Severe shortness of breath, chest pain, new confusion, dangerous rhythm changes, or rapidly worsening weakness need urgent escalation.
What broad AKI cause is likely after vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, and low urine output?
Reduced kidney perfusion from volume depletion is a likely prerenal cause. Vomiting and diarrhea can cause depletion; low blood pressure, low urine output, and rising creatinine support concern.
Why should fluid management in AKI be guided by assessment?
Individualize fluids according to volume status and reassess. Fluids may help with depletion but can worsen overload, so neither automatic boluses nor automatic restriction is appropriate for every patient.
Does a normal ECG rule out dangerous hyperkalemia?
Hyperkalemia can cause dangerous cardiac conduction abnormalities, but the ECG may still appear normal despite a high potassium level.
What should guide decisions about dialysis in AKI?
Consider kidney replacement therapy for life-threatening fluid, electrolyte, or acid–base problems, or significant complications such as uremic encephalopathy or pericarditis. A high BUN or creatinine alone is not an indication.
Which findings suggest fluid overload is affecting the lungs?
Increasing breathlessness, low oxygen levels, and crackles can indicate pulmonary edema from fluid overload. Escalate promptly and support breathing as needed.
Which laboratory findings can reflect metabolic acidosis in AKI?
Metabolic acidosis may be reflected by low bicarbonate and, when measured, low blood pH.
Which serious complications can result from uremia?
Serious uremic complications include encephalopathy, pericarditis, and bleeding tendency. New altered mental status or chest pain with worsening kidney failure warrants urgent evaluation.
What complication is suggested by dizziness and leg cramps as blood pressure falls during hemodialysis?
Dizziness, falling blood pressure, and painful cramps during fluid removal suggest intradialytic hypotension with muscle cramps. Report the blood-pressure change, symptoms, timing, and fluid-removal context.
Which hemodialysis access changes need prompt attention?
Fever or chills, redness or drainage at the access site, uncontrolled bleeding, or a fistula or graft that has lost its usual vibration need prompt attention.
What should be monitored during hemodialysis?
Monitor blood pressure, symptoms, and vascular access. Hypotension and muscle cramps may occur, sometimes with rapid fluid removal or changes in body-fluid balance.
What should be reassessed after AKI interventions?
Reassess urine output, respiratory status, blood pressure, fluid balance, and repeat laboratory results as clinically directed.
Review the purpose and components of mental health assessment, mental status and safety evaluation, and clear clinical documentation.
A medium-difficulty quiz on applying trauma-informed, crisis, suicide-prevention, and violence-response principles in care.
A medium-difficulty quiz on recognizing anxiety-related conditions and applying respectful, safety-focused nursing care.
A medium-difficulty quiz on recognizing mood-disorder patterns and applying safe, person-centered nursing care.
Review personality disorder assessment and supportive care, eating disorder features and assessment, and collaborative behavioral approaches to individualized care.
A medium-difficulty quiz on personality disorders, eating disorders, therapeutic communication, assessment, and individualized care.
A medium-difficulty quiz on recognizing substance use disorder risks, assessment, withdrawal, overdose response, harm reduction, and treatment.
Learn how substance use disorders are assessed and treated, how to recognize urgent risks, and how respectful, person-centered care can support safety and recovery.
A quiz on choosing, monitoring, and using psychiatric medications safely, including recognizing important risks and applying medication-safety principles.
Learn how major psychiatric medication groups are used, what adverse effects and urgent warning signs to recognize, and how monitoring and shared decision-making support safer treatment.
A medium-difficulty quiz on person-centered mental health planning, collaboration, ethical responsibilities, and continuity of care.
Learn how to build person-centered mental health plans, coordinate teams, protect rights and privacy, and support safe transitions between care settings.