#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
#481: MMM - What Actually Matters Before School Starts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:58
If you're starting nursing school soon, you won't want to miss this week's Mo's Monday Minute. In this shortie episode, I'm breaking down what actually matters before you start nursing school, and what you can safely ign…
ENCORE! #251: Let’s Break Down Rhabdomyolysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:16
Every other week I republish one of my most popular or impactful episodes from my backlog of over 450 episodes. This week I'm highlighting Episode #251, which is about a critical condition that is actually more common th…
#480: PodQuiz - Serotonin Syndrome PodQuiz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:43
It’s PodQuiz Monday! Test your knowledge from last week’s 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 ta…
#479: Serotonin Syndrome - Signs, Symptoms & Nursing Interventions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:16
Your patient was just started on linezolid for a staph infection. Three hours later, you notice agitation, tremors, diarrhea, and a temperature of 102.8. You check the chart and see they take sertraline for depression. I…
#478: MMM - The Potassium-Insulin Connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:17
Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm breaking down the connection between potassium and insulin and how it plays out in hyperkalemi…
ENCORE #136: Four Truth Bombs about Mental Health Nursing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:27
Every other week I republish one of my most popular or impactful episodes from my backlog of over 450 episodes. This week I'm highlighting Episode 136, which is about why so many students struggle with their mental healt…
#477: PodQuiz - The Scoop on Poop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:08
It’s PodQuiz Monday! Test your knowledge from a recently encore'd 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…
#476: The Real Reasons Nursing School Feels So Hard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:23
If nursing school feels harder than you expected… you’re not alone. You studied all weekend. You walked out of the exam unsure. You feel behind even though you’re constantly studying. You were a strong student before thi…
#475: MMM - What "Widening Pulse Pressure" Means [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:11
Let's start your week strong with a quick tip you can incorporate right away. In this Mo's Monday Minute shortie episode, I'm breaking down what "widening pulse pressure" means, why you might see it in the clinical setti…