Wk 5 Urinary Labs and Diagnostics Flashcards
What does turbid mean concerning urine?
Very cloudy urine
Who has cloudy urine?
Someone who has a UTI
What does amber or honey colored urine indicate?
Dehydration
What does syrup or a brown ale colored urine indicate?
Liver disease or severe dehydration
What does pink to reddish colored urine indicate?
Hematuria Kidney disease Tumors UTI Prostate problems etc
What does urine that looks dark brown like Coca Cola indicate?
Obstructive jaundice
What causes the dark brown Coca Cola colored urine?
Water soluble bilirubin in the urine
What is the normal serum creatinine?
0.5-1.2 mg/dL
What is the most reliable indicator of renal function?
serum creatinine
The BUN is not specific to the __
kidneys
Creatinine is specific to the __
kidneys
What is creatinine?
Breakdown of muscle and protein metabolism
Creatinine is released at a __ rate
consistent
When would you see a creatinine level that was too low? (Below 0.5 mg/dL)
Muscle atrophy, malnourished
What is the normal range for blood urea nitrogen?
10-20 mg/dL
What are 3 things that can cause an elevated BUN?
High nitrogen/high protein tube feeds/diet
GI bleed
Hydration status
Why does a high nitrogen diet raise BUN?
Nitrogen is the end product of protein breakdown
Why would a GI bleed raise BUN levels?
Blood is protein rich, so you will digest the blood in the GI tract and it will drive up the BUN
If a patient has an elevated BUN and NOT an elevated creatinine, what could be the cause? (3)
High nitrogen/protein diet
GI bleed
Hydration status
How might the nurse determine if the patient is experiencing a GI bleed and that is the reason for the elevated BUN?
Look at their H&H and see if it is going down
If someone is very hydrated, what effect would this have on BUN?
It would decrease the BUN, the BUN would be diluted
If someone is very dehydrated, what effect would this have on BUN?
It would raise the BUN, the BUN would be concentrated
What is the normal potassium range?
3.5-5 mEq/L
The kidneys secrete the majority of what electrolyte?
Potassium
If a patient has kidney disease, they will have __-kalemia
hyper
Which electrolyte is one of the first to become abnormal with kidney disease?
potassium
What potassium level does a patient experience cardiac dysrhythmias and muscle weakness?
Greater than 6 mEq/L
If a patient’s potassium level is greater than 6 mEq/L, what symptoms might they have? (2)
dysrhythmias
muscle weakness
What is the normal range for calcium?
9-10.5 mEq/L
In chronic kidney disease, what do calcium levels look like?
They are decreased
Why are calcium levels decreased in chronic kidney disease?
There is decreased reabsorption
What does decreased reabsorption of calcium lead to in chronic kidney disease?
Renal osetodystrophy
What is renal osteodystrophy?
Weakening of the bones
A patient with chronic kidney disease is at risk for __ breaks
Bone
What is the normal range for phosphorous?
3.0-4.5 mEq/L
What is the chemical abbreviation for phosphorous?
PO4++
What is phosphorous inversely related to?
Calcium
What is calcium inversely related to?
Phosphorous
What two electrolytes are inversely related?
Calcium and phosphorous
What do phosphorous levels look like in a patient with chronic kidney disease?
They are high
Why are phosphorous levels high in a patient with chronic kidney disease?
Because the calcium levels are low due to decreased reabsorption
What is the normal range for serum magnesium?
1.3-2.1 mEq/L
What do magnesium levels look like in chronic kidney disease?
They are high
When is the best time to do a UA?
first in the morning
Why should you do a UA in the morning?
Because it is most concentrated at that time
How soon should a UA be given to the lab?
Within the hour
What should urine NOT have on a UA?
Bilirubin Glucose Ketones Protein WBC RBC
What is the normal pH of urine?
4.6-6.0
What is the normal range for urine specific gravity?
1.010-1.030
What is the normal odor for urine?
Aromatic
Is aromatic smelling urine expected or unexpected?
Expected