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NEPHROLOGY NURSING 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
NEPHROLOGY NURSING EXAM
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW
SECTION 1: RENAL ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY (Questions 1-20)
1. A nurse is reviewing renal anatomy with a nursing student. Which structure is
responsible for filtering blood to form urine?
A. Renal pelvis
B. Nephron
C. Ureter
D. Bladder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood
and forming urine. The renal pelvis (A) collects urine, the ureter (C) transports urine, and the
bladder (D) stores urine.
2. A nurse is assessing a client's renal function. Which laboratory value is the most
accurate indicator of glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?
A. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
B. Serum creatinine
C. Serum potassium
D. Serum sodium
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: Serum creatinine is the most accurate indicator of GFR because it is a waste
product of muscle metabolism that is filtered by the kidneys and not reabsorbed. BUN (A)
can be affected by protein intake and hydration status. Potassium (C) and sodium (D) are
electrolytes that can be affected by various factors.
3. A nurse is reviewing the physiology of urine formation. Which process occurs in the
proximal convoluted tubule?
A. Filtration
B. Reabsorption of water and solutes
C. Secretion of hydrogen ions
D. Concentration of urine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The proximal convoluted tubule is responsible for the reabsorption of water,
glucose, amino acids, and electrolytes. Filtration (A) occurs in the glomerulus. Secretion of
hydrogen ions (C) occurs in the distal tubule. Concentration of urine (D) occurs in the
collecting duct.
4. A nurse is assessing a client's renal function. Which of the following is a normal
serum creatinine level for an adult male?
A. 0.6-1.2 mg/dL
B. 0.8-1.4 mg/dL
C. 1.0-2.0 mg/dL
D. 2.0-3.0 mg/dL
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Normal serum creatinine for an adult male is 0.6-1.2 mg/dL. For females, it is
0.5-1.1 mg/dL. Elevated creatinine indicates decreased GFR and impaired kidney function.
5. A nurse is reviewing the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Which
substance is released by the kidneys in response to decreased blood pressure?
A. Renin
B. Angiotensin I
C. Angiotensin II
D. Aldosterone
Correct Answer: A
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Rationale: Renin is released by the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidneys in response to
decreased blood pressure, decreased sodium delivery, or sympathetic stimulation. Renin
converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I, which is then converted to angiotensin II.
6. A nurse is assessing a client's fluid balance. Which hormone is released by the
posterior pituitary to promote water reabsorption in the kidneys?
A. Aldosterone
B. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
C. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
D. Renin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is released by the posterior pituitary and promotes
water reabsorption in the collecting ducts of the kidneys. Aldosterone (A) promotes sodium
reabsorption. ANP (C) promotes sodium excretion. Renin (D) is released by the kidneys.
7. A nurse is reviewing the anatomy of the urinary system. Which structure connects the
kidney to the bladder?
A. Renal pelvis
B. Ureter
C. Urethra
D. Nephron
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ureter connects the kidney to the bladder. The renal pelvis (A) collects urine
within the kidney. The urethra (C) carries urine from the bladder to the outside. The nephron
(D) is the functional unit of the kidney.
8. A nurse is assessing a client's renal function. Which of the following is a normal blood
urea nitrogen (BUN) level?
A. 5-10 mg/dL
B. 7-20 mg/dL
C. 20-30 mg/dL
D. 30-50 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: Normal BUN is 7-20 mg/dL. BUN is a waste product of protein metabolism.
Elevated BUN may indicate decreased renal function, dehydration, or increased protein
intake.
9. A nurse is reviewing the path of blood flow through the kidney. Which structure
receives blood from the afferent arteriole?
A. Efferent arteriole
B. Glomerulus
C. Peritubular capillaries
D. Vasa recta
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The afferent arteriole delivers blood to the glomerulus, where filtration occurs.
The efferent arteriole (A) carries blood away from the glomerulus. Peritubular capillaries (C)
and vasa recta (D) surround the tubules for reabsorption and secretion.
10. A nurse is assessing a client's urine output. Which of the following is a normal urine
output for an adult?
A. 10-20 mL/hr
B. 30-50 mL/hr
C. 60-100 mL/hr
D. 100-200 mL/hr
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal urine output for an adult is 30-50 mL/hr (approximately 0.5-1 mL/kg/hr).
Less than 30 mL/hr indicates oliguria. Less than 10 mL/hr indicates anuria.
11. A nurse is reviewing the kidney's role in acid-base balance. Which substance is
excreted by the kidneys to maintain acid-base balance?
A. Bicarbonate
B. Hydrogen ions
C. Sodium
D. Potassium
Correct Answer: B
NEPHROLOGY NURSING 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
NEPHROLOGY NURSING EXAM
250 Practice Questions with Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW
SECTION 1: RENAL ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY (Questions 1-20)
1. A nurse is reviewing renal anatomy with a nursing student. Which structure is
responsible for filtering blood to form urine?
A. Renal pelvis
B. Nephron
C. Ureter
D. Bladder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood
and forming urine. The renal pelvis (A) collects urine, the ureter (C) transports urine, and the
bladder (D) stores urine.
2. A nurse is assessing a client's renal function. Which laboratory value is the most
accurate indicator of glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?
A. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
B. Serum creatinine
C. Serum potassium
D. Serum sodium
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: Serum creatinine is the most accurate indicator of GFR because it is a waste
product of muscle metabolism that is filtered by the kidneys and not reabsorbed. BUN (A)
can be affected by protein intake and hydration status. Potassium (C) and sodium (D) are
electrolytes that can be affected by various factors.
3. A nurse is reviewing the physiology of urine formation. Which process occurs in the
proximal convoluted tubule?
A. Filtration
B. Reabsorption of water and solutes
C. Secretion of hydrogen ions
D. Concentration of urine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The proximal convoluted tubule is responsible for the reabsorption of water,
glucose, amino acids, and electrolytes. Filtration (A) occurs in the glomerulus. Secretion of
hydrogen ions (C) occurs in the distal tubule. Concentration of urine (D) occurs in the
collecting duct.
4. A nurse is assessing a client's renal function. Which of the following is a normal
serum creatinine level for an adult male?
A. 0.6-1.2 mg/dL
B. 0.8-1.4 mg/dL
C. 1.0-2.0 mg/dL
D. 2.0-3.0 mg/dL
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Normal serum creatinine for an adult male is 0.6-1.2 mg/dL. For females, it is
0.5-1.1 mg/dL. Elevated creatinine indicates decreased GFR and impaired kidney function.
5. A nurse is reviewing the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Which
substance is released by the kidneys in response to decreased blood pressure?
A. Renin
B. Angiotensin I
C. Angiotensin II
D. Aldosterone
Correct Answer: A
, Page 3 of 77
Rationale: Renin is released by the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidneys in response to
decreased blood pressure, decreased sodium delivery, or sympathetic stimulation. Renin
converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I, which is then converted to angiotensin II.
6. A nurse is assessing a client's fluid balance. Which hormone is released by the
posterior pituitary to promote water reabsorption in the kidneys?
A. Aldosterone
B. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
C. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
D. Renin
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is released by the posterior pituitary and promotes
water reabsorption in the collecting ducts of the kidneys. Aldosterone (A) promotes sodium
reabsorption. ANP (C) promotes sodium excretion. Renin (D) is released by the kidneys.
7. A nurse is reviewing the anatomy of the urinary system. Which structure connects the
kidney to the bladder?
A. Renal pelvis
B. Ureter
C. Urethra
D. Nephron
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ureter connects the kidney to the bladder. The renal pelvis (A) collects urine
within the kidney. The urethra (C) carries urine from the bladder to the outside. The nephron
(D) is the functional unit of the kidney.
8. A nurse is assessing a client's renal function. Which of the following is a normal blood
urea nitrogen (BUN) level?
A. 5-10 mg/dL
B. 7-20 mg/dL
C. 20-30 mg/dL
D. 30-50 mg/dL
Correct Answer: B
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Rationale: Normal BUN is 7-20 mg/dL. BUN is a waste product of protein metabolism.
Elevated BUN may indicate decreased renal function, dehydration, or increased protein
intake.
9. A nurse is reviewing the path of blood flow through the kidney. Which structure
receives blood from the afferent arteriole?
A. Efferent arteriole
B. Glomerulus
C. Peritubular capillaries
D. Vasa recta
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The afferent arteriole delivers blood to the glomerulus, where filtration occurs.
The efferent arteriole (A) carries blood away from the glomerulus. Peritubular capillaries (C)
and vasa recta (D) surround the tubules for reabsorption and secretion.
10. A nurse is assessing a client's urine output. Which of the following is a normal urine
output for an adult?
A. 10-20 mL/hr
B. 30-50 mL/hr
C. 60-100 mL/hr
D. 100-200 mL/hr
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normal urine output for an adult is 30-50 mL/hr (approximately 0.5-1 mL/kg/hr).
Less than 30 mL/hr indicates oliguria. Less than 10 mL/hr indicates anuria.
11. A nurse is reviewing the kidney's role in acid-base balance. Which substance is
excreted by the kidneys to maintain acid-base balance?
A. Bicarbonate
B. Hydrogen ions
C. Sodium
D. Potassium
Correct Answer: B
