NURSING AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT

Nursing and Medication Management



Nursing and Medication Management

Introduction

This paper intends to explore about Acute Renal Failure (ARF) and its nursing and medication management. The paper will answer four separate questions as asked in the case study in order to depict the understanding of pathophysiology, nursing and medication requirements of Acute Renal Failure.

Case Analysis

The case of 79 years old Mr. Albert Walton depicts the suspicion of Acute Renal Failure who has been admitted to the Emergency Department. Mr. Walton has past medical history of Osteoarthritis and Hypertension. Mr. Walton was already using the medicines of Naproxen and Enalapril. All the four questions asked in the case study will be answered respectively.

Medical Diagnosis of Acute Renal Failure (ARF)

Acute Renal Failure refers to the loss or disability of kidney function. The basic medical diagnosis of Acute Renal Failure is done on the basis of laboratory findings of any patient and its characteristics. Elements in the laboratory findings like levels of blood urea nitrogen or creatinine helps in the diagnosis of Acute Renal Failure. Moreover, another important basis of the diagnosis is provided by the fact of inability of kidneys to produce the required amount of urine. The medical diagnosis of Acute Renal Failure is done through 'blood tests' for various substances that the kidneys eliminate. Moreover, ultrasound of kidneys and its biopsy also helps in its diagnosis (Papadakis & McPhee, 2008 Pp. 125-150).

The basic symptoms that help in the diagnosis of Acute Renal Failure are little or no urine production, swelling in the legs or nausea. However, the known causes of Acute Renal Failure are chronic kidney diseases or maybe genetic predisposition. Moreover, conditions like acute tubular necrosis, low blood pressure, any disorders that can create clotting in the kidney vessels like transfusion reaction or malignant hypertension and sometimes even pregnancy complications lead to Acute Renal Failure. I believe that the cause of Mr. Walton's Acute Renal Failure can be his disease of hypertension from which he is suffering from the last eleven years. Moreover, oliguria, haematuria and pitting oedema to the ankles provides the basis for his diagnosis of Acute Renal Failure (Lynda, 2008 Pp. 225-250).

Like every other disease, Acute Renal Failure also undergoes various phases. Different authors have described these phases differently. The most commonly known phases of the Acute Renal Failure disease are the Initiation phase, Oliguric phase, Diuretic phase and the recovery phase. All these phases are undergone by any patient of Acute Renal Failure.

The initiation phase refers to the reduced blood flow to the nephrons of kidneys. This phase contributes towards reabsorption of metabolic substances. The next stage of Oliguric phase refers to the excretion of less adequate urinary volumes. This stage usually begins within forty eight hours of the initiation phase. The next stage begins with the recovery of nephrons. However, all the basic levels of various elements like creatinine and potassium remains elevated. Normally the recovery of nephrons take several years, and not necessarily all patients get completely recovered ...