AKI
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
Renal / Urinary / Electrolyteshigh priorityneeds review
AKI
Also testable as: Acute kidney injury
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Prerenal hypoperfusion, intrarenal damage, or postrenal obstruction.
- Kidneys abruptly lose filtering ability, causing waste, fluid, acid-base, and electrolyte problems.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Diuretics | May be used for fluid management only when appropriate. |
Signs / symptoms
- Abruptly reduced or absent urine output.
- Leg, ankle, or foot edema from fluid retention.
- Shortness of breath.
- Persistent nausea or vomiting.
- Fatigue or sluggishness.
- Confusion or other mental-status changes.
- Elevated blood pressure.
Nursing actions
- Trend urine output, daily weight, edema, lung sounds, BUN/creatinine, and potassium.
- Avoid nephrotoxins and clarify renal dosing concerns.
- Treat underlying cause and prepare dialysis if severe complications occur.
Complications
- Hyperkalemia
- Pulmonary edema
- Metabolic acidosis
- Uremia
NCLEX cues
- Low urine output plus rising creatinine.
- K kills: hyperkalemia is priority.
Memory hooks
- Kidneys fail: fluid up, waste up, K up.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Creatinine
- BUN
- Potassium
- Urine output
- ABG if acid-base concern
Review notes
- Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.
Cross references
Related cards are generated from the shared study map, not hand-built per page.
Source entitycondition card
AKI
Condition card for AKI: recognize the testable cue, prevent the complication, and choose the safest first nursing action.
Termcondition cue
AKI
Sudden decline in kidney function that can affect fluid balance, electrolytes, and medication clearance.
Termcondition cue
BUN
Lab value that can rise with kidney dysfunction, dehydration, bleeding, or high protein breakdown.
Termcondition cue
GFR
Estimate of how well kidneys filter blood.
Med classmedication safety
Diuretics
Moves fluid out through the kidneys; the exact electrolyte effect depends on the class.
Sources and evidence
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000501.htmSigns / symptoms