The nurse is caring for a seriously ill patient whose laboratory results show a serum creatinine level of 3.5 mg/dL and a serum BUN of 35 mg/dL. Which conclusion can the nurse draw from these test results?
A) The patient is severely dehydrated.
B) The patient's kidneys have been damaged.
C) The patient has a urinary tract infection.
D) The patient has developed a renal calculus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Elevated BUN and creatinine are found in laboratory test results when the kidneys have been damaged and are unable to sufficiently clear metabolic wastes from the bloodstream. A dehydrated patient may have an elevated BUN, but the serum creatinine should be normal. Urinary tract infection and kidney stone (renal calculus) would not cause elevated BUN and creatinine levels.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Seriously Ill Patient Whose