This document provides an overview of acute kidney injury (AKI) for undergraduate nurses. It defines AKI, discusses risk factors and causes, and outlines steps for identifying, managing, and referring patients with AKI. Key points include:
- AKI is a spectrum of injury that can lead to renal failure if unrecognized. It is identified by rises in creatinine and decreases in urine output.
- Patients with chronic conditions, sepsis, hypotension, or those on certain medications are at higher risk. Causes include reduced renal blood flow (pre-renal), direct kidney damage (intrinsic), or urinary tract obstruction (post-renal).
- For patients with AKI, nurses should monitor vital