Renal Test Questions and Answers Updated
2026
When reading a patient's chart, the nurse notes that the patient has dysuria. To assess whether there
is any improvement, which question will the nurse ask?
a. "Do you have any blood in your urine?"
b. "Do you have to urinate very frequently?"
c. "Do you have any pain when you urinate?"
d. "Do you have to get up at night to urinate?" - Answer"Do you have any pain when you urinate?"
Rationale:
Dysuria is painful urination. The alternate responses are used to assess other urinary tract
symptoms: hematuria, nocturia, and frequency.
A patient's urine dipstick indicates a small amount of protein in the urine. The next action by the
nurse should be to
a. check which medications the patient is currently taking.
b. obtain a clean-catch urine for culture and sensitivity testing.
c. ask the patient about any family history of chronic renal failure.
d. send a urine specimen to the laboratory to test for ketones and glucose. - Answercheck which
medications the patient is currently taking.
Rationale: Normally the urinalysis will show zero to trace amounts of protein, but some medications
may give false-positive readings. The other actions by the nurse may be appropriate, but checking for
medications that may affect the dipstick accuracy should be done first.
A creatinine clearance test is ordered for a hospitalized patient with possible renal insufficiency.
Which equipment will the nurse need to obtain?
a. Sterile specimen cup
b. Large container for urine
c. Foley catheter and drainage bag
d. Towelettes for perineal cleaning - AnswerLarge container for urine
Rationale: Since creatinine clearance testing involves a 24-hour urine specimen, the nurse should
obtain a large container for the urine collection. Catheterization, cleaning of the perineum with
antiseptic towelettes, and a sterile specimen cup are not needed for this test.
,A 26-year-old patient who is employed as a hairdresser and has a 10 pack-year history of cigarette
smoking is scheduled for an annual physical examination. The nurse will plan to teach the patient
about the increased risk for
a. renal failure.
b. kidney stones.
c. pyelonephritis.
d. bladder cancer. - Answerbladder cancer.
Rationale: Exposure to the chemicals involved with working as a hairdresser and in smoking both
increase the risk of bladder cancer, and the nurse should assess whether the patient understands this
risk. The patient is not at increased risk for renal failure, pyelonephritis, or kidney stones.
During assessment of a patient with decreased renal function, which of these medications taken by
the patient at home will be of most concern to the nurse?
a. ibuprofen (Motrin)
b. warfarin (Coumadin)
c. folic acid (vitamin B9)
d. penicillin (Bicillin LA) - Answeribuprofen (Motrin)
Rationale: The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are nephrotoxic and should be
avoided in patients with impaired renal function. The nurse also should ask about reasons the
patient is taking the other medications, but the medication of most concern is the ibuprofen
An 82-year-old man has been admitted with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Which of the following is
most appropriate to include in the nursing plan of care?
a. Limit fluid intake to no more than 1500 mL/day.
b. Leave a light on in the bathroom during the night.
c. Pad the patient's bed to accommodate overflow incontinence.
d. Ask the patient to use a urinal so that all urine can be measured. - AnswerLeave a light on in the
bathroom during the night.
Rationale: The patient's age and diagnosis indicate a likelihood of nocturia, so leaving the light on in
the bathroom is appropriate. Fluids should be encouraged because dehydration is more common in
older patients. The information in the question does not indicate that measurement of the patient's
output is necessary or that the patient has overflow incontinence.
While assessing a patient's urinary system, the nurse cannot palpate either kidney. Which action
should the nurse take next?
a. Obtain a urine specimen to check for hematuria.
, b. Document the information on the assessment form.
c. Ask the patient about any history of recent sore throat.
d. Ask the health care provider about scheduling a renal ultrasound. - AnswerDocument the
information on the assessment form.
Rationale: The kidneys are protected by the abdominal organs, ribs, and muscles of the back and may
not be palpable under normal circumstances, so no action except to document the assessment
information is needed. Asking about a recent sore throat, checking for hematuria, or obtaining a
renal ultrasound may be appropriate when assessing for renal problems for some patients, but there
is nothing in the question stem to indicate that they are appropriate for this patient.
How will the nurse assess the flank area of a patient with pyelonephritis for tenderness?
a. Push gently into the two lowest intercostal spaces.
b. Palpate along both sides of the lumbar vertebral column.
c. Position one hand flat at the costovertebral angle (CVA) and strike it with the other fist.
d. Use two fingers to percuss the area between the iliac crest and ribs along the midaxillary line. -
AnswerPosition one hand flat at the costovertebral angle (CVA) and strike it with the other fist.
Rationale: Checking for flank pain is best performed by percussion of the CVA and asking about pain.
The other techniques would not assess for flank pain.
The nurse uses auscultation during assessment of the urinary system to
a. check for ureteral peristalsis.
b. assess for bladder distention.
c. identify renal artery or aortic bruits.
d. determine the position of the kidneys. - Answeridentify renal artery or aortic bruits.
Rationale:The presence of a bruit may indicate problems such as renal artery tortuosity or abdominal
aortic aneurysm. Auscultation would not be helpful in assessing for the other listed urinary tract
information.
A patient who is scheduled for an A patient who is scheduled for an intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
gives the nurse the following information. Which information has the most immediate implications
for the patient's care?
a. The patient describes allergies to shellfish and penicillin.
b. The patient has not had anything to eat or drink for 8 hours.
c. The patient complains of costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness.
2026
When reading a patient's chart, the nurse notes that the patient has dysuria. To assess whether there
is any improvement, which question will the nurse ask?
a. "Do you have any blood in your urine?"
b. "Do you have to urinate very frequently?"
c. "Do you have any pain when you urinate?"
d. "Do you have to get up at night to urinate?" - Answer"Do you have any pain when you urinate?"
Rationale:
Dysuria is painful urination. The alternate responses are used to assess other urinary tract
symptoms: hematuria, nocturia, and frequency.
A patient's urine dipstick indicates a small amount of protein in the urine. The next action by the
nurse should be to
a. check which medications the patient is currently taking.
b. obtain a clean-catch urine for culture and sensitivity testing.
c. ask the patient about any family history of chronic renal failure.
d. send a urine specimen to the laboratory to test for ketones and glucose. - Answercheck which
medications the patient is currently taking.
Rationale: Normally the urinalysis will show zero to trace amounts of protein, but some medications
may give false-positive readings. The other actions by the nurse may be appropriate, but checking for
medications that may affect the dipstick accuracy should be done first.
A creatinine clearance test is ordered for a hospitalized patient with possible renal insufficiency.
Which equipment will the nurse need to obtain?
a. Sterile specimen cup
b. Large container for urine
c. Foley catheter and drainage bag
d. Towelettes for perineal cleaning - AnswerLarge container for urine
Rationale: Since creatinine clearance testing involves a 24-hour urine specimen, the nurse should
obtain a large container for the urine collection. Catheterization, cleaning of the perineum with
antiseptic towelettes, and a sterile specimen cup are not needed for this test.
,A 26-year-old patient who is employed as a hairdresser and has a 10 pack-year history of cigarette
smoking is scheduled for an annual physical examination. The nurse will plan to teach the patient
about the increased risk for
a. renal failure.
b. kidney stones.
c. pyelonephritis.
d. bladder cancer. - Answerbladder cancer.
Rationale: Exposure to the chemicals involved with working as a hairdresser and in smoking both
increase the risk of bladder cancer, and the nurse should assess whether the patient understands this
risk. The patient is not at increased risk for renal failure, pyelonephritis, or kidney stones.
During assessment of a patient with decreased renal function, which of these medications taken by
the patient at home will be of most concern to the nurse?
a. ibuprofen (Motrin)
b. warfarin (Coumadin)
c. folic acid (vitamin B9)
d. penicillin (Bicillin LA) - Answeribuprofen (Motrin)
Rationale: The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are nephrotoxic and should be
avoided in patients with impaired renal function. The nurse also should ask about reasons the
patient is taking the other medications, but the medication of most concern is the ibuprofen
An 82-year-old man has been admitted with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Which of the following is
most appropriate to include in the nursing plan of care?
a. Limit fluid intake to no more than 1500 mL/day.
b. Leave a light on in the bathroom during the night.
c. Pad the patient's bed to accommodate overflow incontinence.
d. Ask the patient to use a urinal so that all urine can be measured. - AnswerLeave a light on in the
bathroom during the night.
Rationale: The patient's age and diagnosis indicate a likelihood of nocturia, so leaving the light on in
the bathroom is appropriate. Fluids should be encouraged because dehydration is more common in
older patients. The information in the question does not indicate that measurement of the patient's
output is necessary or that the patient has overflow incontinence.
While assessing a patient's urinary system, the nurse cannot palpate either kidney. Which action
should the nurse take next?
a. Obtain a urine specimen to check for hematuria.
, b. Document the information on the assessment form.
c. Ask the patient about any history of recent sore throat.
d. Ask the health care provider about scheduling a renal ultrasound. - AnswerDocument the
information on the assessment form.
Rationale: The kidneys are protected by the abdominal organs, ribs, and muscles of the back and may
not be palpable under normal circumstances, so no action except to document the assessment
information is needed. Asking about a recent sore throat, checking for hematuria, or obtaining a
renal ultrasound may be appropriate when assessing for renal problems for some patients, but there
is nothing in the question stem to indicate that they are appropriate for this patient.
How will the nurse assess the flank area of a patient with pyelonephritis for tenderness?
a. Push gently into the two lowest intercostal spaces.
b. Palpate along both sides of the lumbar vertebral column.
c. Position one hand flat at the costovertebral angle (CVA) and strike it with the other fist.
d. Use two fingers to percuss the area between the iliac crest and ribs along the midaxillary line. -
AnswerPosition one hand flat at the costovertebral angle (CVA) and strike it with the other fist.
Rationale: Checking for flank pain is best performed by percussion of the CVA and asking about pain.
The other techniques would not assess for flank pain.
The nurse uses auscultation during assessment of the urinary system to
a. check for ureteral peristalsis.
b. assess for bladder distention.
c. identify renal artery or aortic bruits.
d. determine the position of the kidneys. - Answeridentify renal artery or aortic bruits.
Rationale:The presence of a bruit may indicate problems such as renal artery tortuosity or abdominal
aortic aneurysm. Auscultation would not be helpful in assessing for the other listed urinary tract
information.
A patient who is scheduled for an A patient who is scheduled for an intravenous pyelogram (IVP)
gives the nurse the following information. Which information has the most immediate implications
for the patient's care?
a. The patient describes allergies to shellfish and penicillin.
b. The patient has not had anything to eat or drink for 8 hours.
c. The patient complains of costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness.
