CCRN: Renal Exam 2025 Questions and
Answers
Functional unit of the kidneys - ANSWER-Nephrons
-Each kidney has ~1 million nephrons, and each nephron has a vascular system
and a tubular system
How are the kidneys affected when blood pressure drops - ANSWER-Renal
perfusion is decreased, and the compensatory response at the level of the nephrons
occur
--*Afferent arterioles DILATE*- increasing flow to the glomerular capillaries
AND *efferent arterioles CONSTRICT*- decreasing flow from the glomerular
capillaries
This results in an *increased pressure gradient within the capillary bed*
Patients at increased risk for acute renal failure - ANSWER-Diabetes
Heart failure
Hypertension
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,Nephrotoxic substances examples - ANSWER-Antibiotics
NSAIDS
ACE inhibitors, ARBs
Antineoplastics
Contrast media
Diuretics, if overused and result in vascular volume depletion
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) - ANSWER-Measures the amount of nitrogen in the
blood that comes from the waste product urea (formed in liver)
-*Dehydration and shock* may elevate this (but not the best parameter for
monitoring renal function or GFR
*Normal*= 10-23 mg/dL
Creatinine - ANSWER-A non-protein waste product of creatinine phosphate
metabolism by skeletal muscle tissue
-Better indicator of renal function (GFR) than BUN
*Normal*
-*Females*= 0.6-1.1 mg/dL
-*Males*= 0.8-1.4 mg/dL
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, What is the best indicator of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) - ANSWER-24-
hour urine for creatinine clearance
-Variables needed to calculate include: urine creatinine, serum creatinine, and
volume of urine
Glomerular filtration rate - ANSWER-The *volume* of plasma filtered from the
glomerular capillaries into Bowman's capsule per minute
*Normal= 125 mL/min*
*Inversely related to serum creatinine*
Only *small* molecules are filtered; the presence of large molecules (protein) in
urine indicates glomerular damage
What is important to consider when calculating GFR - ANSWER-Age
Sex
Size
Serum creatinine
Normoalbuminuria - ANSWER-Less than 20 mg/day albumin
Microalbuminuria - ANSWER-early sign of renal disease involving the presence of
albumin in the urine in amounts greater than expected but too low to be detected
by dipstick testing
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 3
Answers
Functional unit of the kidneys - ANSWER-Nephrons
-Each kidney has ~1 million nephrons, and each nephron has a vascular system
and a tubular system
How are the kidneys affected when blood pressure drops - ANSWER-Renal
perfusion is decreased, and the compensatory response at the level of the nephrons
occur
--*Afferent arterioles DILATE*- increasing flow to the glomerular capillaries
AND *efferent arterioles CONSTRICT*- decreasing flow from the glomerular
capillaries
This results in an *increased pressure gradient within the capillary bed*
Patients at increased risk for acute renal failure - ANSWER-Diabetes
Heart failure
Hypertension
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 1
,Nephrotoxic substances examples - ANSWER-Antibiotics
NSAIDS
ACE inhibitors, ARBs
Antineoplastics
Contrast media
Diuretics, if overused and result in vascular volume depletion
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) - ANSWER-Measures the amount of nitrogen in the
blood that comes from the waste product urea (formed in liver)
-*Dehydration and shock* may elevate this (but not the best parameter for
monitoring renal function or GFR
*Normal*= 10-23 mg/dL
Creatinine - ANSWER-A non-protein waste product of creatinine phosphate
metabolism by skeletal muscle tissue
-Better indicator of renal function (GFR) than BUN
*Normal*
-*Females*= 0.6-1.1 mg/dL
-*Males*= 0.8-1.4 mg/dL
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 2
, What is the best indicator of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) - ANSWER-24-
hour urine for creatinine clearance
-Variables needed to calculate include: urine creatinine, serum creatinine, and
volume of urine
Glomerular filtration rate - ANSWER-The *volume* of plasma filtered from the
glomerular capillaries into Bowman's capsule per minute
*Normal= 125 mL/min*
*Inversely related to serum creatinine*
Only *small* molecules are filtered; the presence of large molecules (protein) in
urine indicates glomerular damage
What is important to consider when calculating GFR - ANSWER-Age
Sex
Size
Serum creatinine
Normoalbuminuria - ANSWER-Less than 20 mg/day albumin
Microalbuminuria - ANSWER-early sign of renal disease involving the presence of
albumin in the urine in amounts greater than expected but too low to be detected
by dipstick testing
....COPYRIGHT ©️ 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED...TRUSTED & VERIFIED 3
