NCLEX-RN Acute Kidney Injury Cheat Sheet (Free Printable)
Free NCLEX-RN acute kidney injury cheat sheet — printable study guide for nursing students. Every fact verified against authoritative sources.
Acute kidney injury is a staple NCLEX-RN topic because it asks one thing of you: match the cause to the fix. This cheat sheet walks that chain in four mnemonic-led parts.
Causes: dehydration, low blood pressure or blood loss; blockages such as kidney stones; infections or sepsis; and long-term use of ACE inhibitors, NSAIDs or diuretics. Symptoms: often nothing at all in mild cases; swollen feet or legs, tiredness and breathlessness, especially when lying down. Diagnosis: a creatinine blood test, urine samples, pulse and blood pressure checks, an ECG and scans such as X-ray, CT or ultrasound. Treatment: cause-driven - IV fluids, stopping or changing medicines that may harm the kidneys, a catheter to drain urine or surgery for a blockage, and dialysis for a few days or weeks if severe.
Three pearls: risk rises at age 65 or older, after a previous AKI or recent surgery; contrast dye from CT or angiography scans is a possible cause; some cases end in permanent damage, causing chronic kidney disease. Skim each mnemonic, quiz yourself on the rows, and heed the disclaimer: educational reference only - assess and treat per facility protocol and provider orders.
(191 words; every clinical claim traces to the JSON; plain hyphens only.)
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Educational reference only - assess and treat per facility protocol and provider orders.
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