Acute Kidney Injury: How Nurses Guide CareSome may think that the words acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease mean the same thing, but this is incorrect. Kidney failure results from the kidneys' inability to remove metabolic wastes and water, which can also disrupt all other organs in the body. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a sudden, rapid loss of kidney function that usually occurs within hours to days due to acute tubular necrosis. Acute tubular necrosis is a process in which ischemia affects parts of the kidneys and disrupts the basement membrane and tubular epithelium. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) develops gradually and can last for many years. CKD is seen in many diabetic patients due to diabetic neuropathy. AKI is a much more serious problem and should be taken very seriously. AKI is usually detected when a patient's serum creatinine is abnormally high or they have a sudden reduction in urine output. Due to these clinical manifestations, a patient may develop azotemia, which means that a large amount of waste accumulates in the blood. AKI has a high mortality rate of 60-70%, especially if not detected early. AKI is sometimes reversible depending on the patient's coexisting morbidities and how their body responds to treatments. When caring for a patient with AKI, the primary goal is to prevent any complications and manage any complications the patient experiences while trying to reverse the cause. Because urine output is the best sign that the kidneys are perfused, the bedside nurse should strictly monitor this patient's fluid intake and urine output. Diuretic treatment is also started at low doses to help the kidneys. AKI patient's electrolyte levels... middle of paper ......use of ammonia retained in the patient's saliva can disrupt the mucous membranes. Anxiety is another important issue to address with AKI patients as they may experience fear related to the rapid onset of the disease and the unknown outcome of their condition. It is important to assess neurological function and emotional needs that the patient may need, such as counseling or antidepressant medications. Overall, for a patient with acute kidney injury, the hope is that they can make a full recovery and be free of complications and electrolyte and fluid imbalances at the end of treatment. However, this is not true for most, as many AKI patients have coexisting morbidities and require treatment until the end of their lives. As nurses, all we can do is provide the best care we know how and make our patients feel as comfortable as possible while they are in our care..