AKI

Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.

Back to conditions
Renal / Urinary / Electrolyteshigh priorityneeds review

AKI

Also testable as: Acute kidney injury

Practice

Etiology / Pathophysiology

  • Prerenal hypoperfusion, intrarenal damage, or postrenal obstruction.
  • Kidneys abruptly lose filtering ability, causing waste, fluid, acid-base, and electrolyte problems.

Medications

ClassWhy it matters
DiureticsMay be used for fluid management only when appropriate.

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.

Drive Pack cross references

AKICondition