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.

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Nephrology Nursing Management

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

Catheter‑Related Bloodstream Infection (CRBSI) – infection via vascular a… #

For tunneled dialysis catheters, strict aseptic technique during dressing changes is essential.

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 Access – point of entry for blood; related terms #

AVF, tunneled catheter. Regular assessment for thrill, bruit, and infection is essential.

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.

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