Pathophysiology
Clinical meaning
BUN, Creatinine, GFR, and Urinalysis Interpretation (Renal & Urinary) links assessment, fluid and electrolyte balance, urinary elimination, renal replacement therapies, and medication safety to nursing judgment: protect perfusion and kidney function, monitor I&O and weights, recognize hyperkalemia, oliguria, access complications, peritonitis, and post-dialysis instability, and escalate when AKI, pulmonary edema, infection, or transplant rejection threatens the client. Canadian items may use SI labs (e.g. mmol/L for glucose or creatinine where shown) and provincial unit norms; prioritization logic matches NCLEX-RN. Pathway context (RN, Canada). This lesson supports NCLEX-RN preparation with Canada-friendly framing. Continue with related lessons from the pathway lesson hub. Learning objectives - Integrate vitals, edema pattern, lung sounds, urine output, labs (creatinine, eGFR, electrolytes, urinalysis), dialysis access, catheter function, and mentation to identify renal emergencies and complications. - Select nursing interventions and teaching aligned with orders, scope, nephrology/dialysis/transplant plans, and facility policy. - Communicate early when findings suggest critical hyperkalemia, anuria with shock, infected or clotted access, dialysis disequilibrium, acute retention, TURP syndrome, or rapid creatinine rise.