#509: Acute Kidney Injury for Nursing Students: Causes, Symptoms, Labs & Treatment

#509: Acute Kidney Injury for Nursing Students: Causes, Symptoms, Labs & Treatment

Author: Maureen Osuna, MSN, RN - Nursing school educator, author, and nursing student enthusiast. August 27, 2026 Duration: 20:48
Acute kidney injury is one of the most common complications seen in hospitalized patients, yet it's a topic that often leaves nursing students overwhelmed by lab values and terminology. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three types of AKI and showing you how to recognize the clues that help distinguish one from another. We'll talk through: - Common causes - Important assessment findings - Key lab values - Complications to watch for when kidney function begins to decline. We'll also review how urine output, fluid status, creatinine, BUN, potassium, and other findings fit together so you can stop memorizing isolated facts and start understanding the bigger picture. Nursing school gets easier when you have a system to help you identify what to focus on as you study, and to connect the dots so you can see that bigger picture. I get you started building that system in my free Nursing School Survival Blueprint, where I share the key shifts you can make which separate struggling students from thriving ones. 👉 ⁠Download the Blueprint⁠ Read the article and view references here. 💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode…and share with friends so you can help other nurses thrive!  ___________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Straight A Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maureen Osuna, known to many as Nurse Mo, brings her experience as a nursing school educator and her genuine enthusiasm for student success to every episode of Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX. She understands that feeling of sitting in a lecture where the concepts just aren't clicking, or the overwhelm that comes from a mountain of complex material. That's precisely where this podcast steps in. Maureen dedicates each session to breaking down those challenging nursing school topics-from pharmacology to pathophysiology-into clear, manageable explanations that actually stick. You'll hear practical strategies for studying more effectively, not just harder, with the direct goal of performing better on your course exams and ultimately, the NCLEX. It's about building a foundation of real understanding that translates directly to clinical confidence, so you can move from anxiety to assurance at the bedside. Tune in for a supportive, expert-guided resource that feels like having a knowledgeable mentor right in your ear, helping you navigate the demanding journey of nursing education one clear concept at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Straight A Nursing: Study for nursing school exams & NCLEX
Podcast Episodes
#504: PodQuiz - Respiratory Failure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:29
Test your knowledge of respiratory failure with this quick set of audio flashcards. Dive right in or brush up on your nursing knowledge of respiratory failure first, in episode #503: Respiratory Failure. These mini-revie…
#503: Respiratory Failure - A Quick Guide for Nursing Students [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:06
Respiratory failure occurs when the respiratory system can no longer adequately meet the oxygen demands of the body, remove carbon dioxide effectively, or both. In this episode you'll learn: - Types and causes of respira…
#502: MMM - The Logic Behind Cushing's Triad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:57
Cushing's Triad is one of those concepts that nursing students often memorize for an exam but don't always understand. Hit play to change that, because once you understand the "why," it's actually a much easier concept t…
Bulletproof Medication Administration - ENCORE! #76 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:39
All nursing schools teach you the five rights of medication administration as a key component in keeping your patients safe, but if you want to take it further to understand all the factors that go into giving medication…
#501: PodQuiz - Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous Systems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:16
It’s PodQuiz Monday! Test your knowledge from a recent episode with a quick set of audio flashcards designed to reinforce what you learned. These mini-reviews are a great way to study on the go, and they give you a taste…
#499: MMM - JVD Made Simple [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:58
You might be wondering, what in the world is JVD? It's another of those terms that nursing students hear all the time and plan to look up later. First, JVD stands for jugular venous distention. Second, hit play and I'll…
Is it a STEMI or a NSTEMI? - ENCORE! #318 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:11
It's a great day to review the differences between STEMI & NSTEMI! In this episode, we'll review: The key differences between STEMI and NSTEMI How to recognize a STEMI on the ECG What “contiguous leads” actually means Si…
#498: MMM - Three causes of acute confusion in elderly patients [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:04
Acute confusion is often one of the first signs something is wrong. The sooner you identify the cause, the sooner your patient can get the treatment they need. Hit play to review 3 common causes to keep an eye out for. _…
#497: How to Start Nursing School the Right Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:20
Most nursing students spend months anxiously waiting for school to start. Then day one arrives and they're completely reactive, overwhelmed, behind, and wondering why nobody told them what to expect. This, my friend, is…