Which findings should a nurse expect when assessing a client with prerenal acute kidney injury? (Select all that apply)

Reduced urine output is a hallmark finding in clients with prerenal acute kidney injury because this condition arises from factors that decrease renal blood flow, leading to insufficient filtration at the kidneys. When the kidneys do not receive adequate blood perfusion, they conserve water and concentrate urine, resulting in a noticeable reduction in urine output.

Elevated blood creatinine is commonly observed in prerenal acute kidney injury as well. This occurs because creatinine, a waste product of muscle metabolism, is filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. When kidney function is impaired due to reduced blood flow, creatinine levels rise in the bloodstream.

While increased blood pressure could theoretically occur in response to certain compensatory mechanisms in the body during prerenal injury, it is not a defining characteristic of this condition. It’s more typical for blood pressure to decrease as a result of volume depletion, which can accompany prerenal causes.

Decreased blood urea nitrogen is also unlikely, as urea nitrogen levels typically rise in conjunction with creatinine during kidney injury, indicating that there is impaired ability to excrete these waste products due to reduced kidney function or blood flow.

In summary, when assessing a client with prerenal acute kidney injury, one would expect to see both reduced