A nurse is concerned that a child may have renal failure after open heart surgery. Which laboratory value does the nurse assess as the priority to determine the child's kidney function?
A.
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
B.
Serum creatinine
C.
Hemoglobin
D.
Urine pH
ANS: B
The diagnostic laboratory value most specific for kidney function is the creatinine, so this is the laboratory value the nurse assesses. BUN also indicates kidney function, but alterations in BUN can be due to many causes other than kidney problems. The hemoglobin and urine pH do not give information about the function of the kidneys.
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