answered
Normal range of serum albumin? - ANS ✔✔3.5-5.5
The amount of protein in your blood stream that is produced by the liver
3 main functions of the kidney - ANS ✔✔1. Protection: remove nitrogenous waste products,
drug metabolites, impurities
2. Regulatory functions: fluid and electrolyte balance and acid base balance (GFR, ADH,
Aldosterone), bicarbonate
3. Hormonal functions: renin (vasoconstriction), prostaglandins (inflammation), erythropoietin
(makes RBC), vitamin D (strengthens bones)
What can happen when your kidneys are damaged? - ANS ✔✔1. Toxic waste builds up
2. Electrolytes are imbalanced: Na, Ca, PO4, K, Mg-> cardiac electrical acitivty
3. Acid-base imbalance
4. Glucose and protein loss
5. Blood pressure cannot be regulated/damages kidneys even more
6. Anemia (more common in chronic kidney damage) because kidneys can't make enough red
blood cells
False sense of security in renal patients - ANS ✔✔Kidneys have many nephrons and
compensatory mechanisms-> a lot of "invisible" damage can occur while you think that you're
okay
effect of age on kidneys - ANS ✔✔1. reduced GFR, especially in AA patients due to reduced
renal blood flow
, 2. increased effect of dehydration, fluid overload, drug toxicities
3. increased aldosterone can help by retaining more fluid and thus increasing GFR
Are medications important to consider in cases of kidney dysfunction? - ANS ✔✔Yes!
-NSAIDs
-antibiotics
-anti-hypertensives
-diabetic agents
-cardiac meds
-chemo
Medical diagnoses that can result if kidneys are injured - ANS ✔✔1. UTI
2. Kidney stones or renal calculi
3. HF
4. HTN
5. CAD
6. Diabetes
7. Cancer
Physical Assessments you would conduct on renal patient - ANS ✔✔1. daily weight
2. peripheral pulses, lung exam
3. edema
4. mental status changes
5. I's and O's (normal is about 2000mL in urine output/day)
6. muscle strength, twitching, tetany