Nephrology Nursing Management
Expert-defined terms from the Postgraduate Certificate in Renal Care (Part II) course at LearnUNI. Free to read, free to share, paired with a professional course.
A #
A
Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) – surgically created connection between an ar… #
Nursing care includes regular inspection for thrill, bruit, infection signs, and patient education on limb protection.
Arteriovenous Graft (AVG) – synthetic conduit linking artery to vein; rel… #
Compared with AVF, AVG matures faster but has higher infection rates. Nurses assess for erythema, warmth, and audible bruits.
Autoimmune Glomerulonephritis – immune‑mediated inflammation of glomeruli… #
Management includes immunosuppressive therapy and monitoring for infection. Nursing focus is on patient education about medication adherence and infection precautions.
B #
B
C #
C
CKD – Chronic Kidney Disease – progressive loss of renal function; relate… #
Nursing management includes education on diet, medication adherence, and early detection of complications.
Clearance – Dialysis – volume of plasma cleared of a solute per minute; r… #
Nurses assist with calculating treatment adequacy and ensuring prescribed clearance is achieved.
CRRT – Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy – prolonged extracorporeal bl… #
Used in ICU for hemodynamically unstable patients. Nursing duties include circuit monitoring, anticoagulation management, and fluid balance documentation.
D #
D
E #
E
EPO – Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents – stimulate red cell production;… #
Used to treat anemia of CKD. Nurses monitor hemoglobin trends, blood pressure, and iron status.
End‑Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) – kidney failure requiring renal replaceme… #
Nursing care shifts to long‑term management, psychosocial support, and coordination of multidisciplinary services.
Epstein‑Barr Virus (EBV) Reactivation – potential complication after tran… #
Nurses screen for symptoms and coordinate antiviral therapy if needed.
ESRD – Preemptive Transplantation – transplant before dialysis initiation… #
Nurses educate patients on eligibility criteria and post‑operative care.
G #
G
GFR – Glomerular Filtration Rate – estimate of kidney filtering capacity;… #
Calculated from serum creatinine, age, sex, and race. Nurses use GFR to guide medication dosing and referral timing.
Hemodialysis (HD) – extracorporeal blood purification using a dialyzer; r… #
Nurses prepare the circuit, monitor vitals, and manage complications such as hypotension or cramps.
Hemodialysis Complication – Hypotension – drop in blood pressure during t… #
Nursing interventions: Adjust ultrafiltration rate, position patient Trendelenburg, administer saline bolus if needed.
Hemodialysis Complication – Muscle Cramps – painful involuntary contracti… #
Nurses may reduce ultrafiltration speed, administer calcium gluconate, or provide massage.
Hemodialysis Machine – device that controls blood and dialysate flow; rel… #
Nurses must be familiar with set‑up, priming, and troubleshooting.
Hemodialysis Prescription – Kt/V – dimensionless measure of dialysis dose… #
2, dialysis time. Nurses verify blood flow, dialysate flow, and treatment duration to achieve prescribed Kt/V.
I #
I
Immunosuppression – Post‑Transplant – regimen to prevent graft rejection;… #
Nurses monitor drug levels, renal function, and signs of infection.
Intradialytic Hypotension (IDH) – blood pressure drop >20 mmHg systolic d… #
Nursing response: Lower ultrafiltration rate, use cooler dialysate, administer isotonic fluids.
K #
K
Kt/V – ratio of dialyzer clearance (K) × treatment time (t) to volume of… #
Target values differ by modality; nurses ensure treatment parameters meet prescribed Kt/V.
Kidney‑Pancreas Transplant – combined organ transplant for diabetic ESRD;… #
Nursing considerations include glucose monitoring and dual‑organ rejection signs.
L #
L
Leukocyte‑Reduced Blood Products – blood components with minimized white… #
Used in dialysis patients to reduce febrile reactions.
M #
M
Malnutrition‑Inflammation Complex Syndrome (MICS) – combined protein‑ener… #
Nursing interventions include nutritional assessment, supplementation, and inflammation control.
Mid‑Week Dialysis – additional session for fluid‑overloaded patients; rel… #
Nursing scheduling ensures adequate staffing and supplies.
Mineral Bone Disorder (MBD) – disturbances in calcium, phosphorus, PTH; r… #
Nurses educate on phosphate binders, vitamin D analogues, and dietary restrictions.
Modality Choice – Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) – home‑based therapy using per… #
Nursing education includes catheter care, exchange technique, and infection prevention.
Modality Choice – Hemodialysis (HD) – in‑center or home extracorporeal th… #
Nursing responsibilities differ by setting; competence in machine operation is essential.
N #
N
Nephrotic Syndrome – heavy proteinuria >3 #
5 G/day, hypoalbuminemia, edema; related terms: membranous glomerulonephritis. Nursing care includes monitoring protein loss, edema management, and infection prophylaxis.
New‑Onset Diabetes After Transplant (NODAT) – post‑transplant hyperglycem… #
Nursing monitoring includes glucose checks, dietary counseling, and coordination with endocrinology.
P #
P
Palliative Care in Renal Disease – focus on comfort and quality of life;… #
Nurses provide support, advance‑care discussions, and coordinate hospice services when appropriate.
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) Catheter – flexible tube placed in abdomen; rela… #
Nurses teach patients sterile handling and regularly inspect for leaks.
Peritoneal Equilibration Test (PET) – assesses peritoneal membrane transp… #
Results guide prescription; nursing documentation of dwell times is essential.
Potassium‑Binding Resins – agents that exchange potassium for sodium; rel… #
Nursing administration must consider timing with meals and risk of intestinal necrosis.
Predialysis Education – information provided before initiating RRT; relat… #
Nurses play a central role in delivering content and answering patient queries.
Protein‑Energy Wasting (PEW) – loss of body protein and fat stores; relat… #
Nursing interventions include nutritional assessment, supplementation, and monitoring weight trends.
Q #
Q
R #
R
RRT – Renal Replacement Therapy – includes HD, PD, CRRT, and transplantat… #
Nursing competence across modalities ensures continuity of care.
Renal Biopsy – Indications – unexplained hematuria, proteinuria, rapid de… #
Nurses ensure pre‑procedure labs are within acceptable ranges.
Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System (RAAS) – hormonal pathway regulating… #
Nursing assessment includes blood pressure trends and electrolyte monitoring.
RRT Prescription – Ultrafiltration Rate – volume removed per hour; relate… #
Nurses calculate based on interdialytic weight gain and patient tolerance.
S #
S
Sodium‑Glucose Co‑Transporter‑2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors – glucose‑lowering age… #
In CKD, dosing is limited; nurses educate on infection risk (e.G., Genital mycotic infections).
Stewart Approach – method of acid‑base analysis focusing on strong ion di… #
Nurses may use this framework when interpreting ABG in complex cases.
Subclinical Hyperparathyroidism – elevated PTH without overt symptoms; re… #
Nursing role includes patient education on dietary phosphate control.
T #
T
Transplant Rejection – Chronic – progressive loss of graft function; rela… #
Nursing focus shifts to preparing for retransplant or return to dialysis.
U #
U
Uremic Frost – crystalline deposits on skin of severely uremic patients;… #
Nursing care includes meticulous skin hygiene.
Urea Reduction Ratio (URR) – percentage reduction of urea during a dialys… #
Nurses calculate using pre‑ and post‑dialysis BUN values.
Uremic Encephalopathy – neurological dysfunction from toxin buildup; rela… #
Nursing interventions include ensuring adequate dialysis and monitoring mental status.
V #
V
Vascular Access Surveillance – routine monitoring for dysfunction; relate… #
Nurses perform monthly assessments to detect early stenosis.
Vascular Access – Cannulation Technique – method of needle insertion; rel… #
Proper technique reduces aneurysm formation and infection.