Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Review Sample Questions

The correct answer is D. Specific Gravity 1.045

Specific gravity measures the ratio of urine density compared with water density and provided information on the kidney's ability to concentrate urine. Specific gravity of urine is compared to the weight of distilled water, which has a specific gravity of 1.000. the normal range of urine specific gravity can be measured easily with a dipstick. Factors that increase specific gravity are fluid volume deficit, Syndrome of Inappropriate Diuretic Hormone, Congestive Heart Failure, Acidosis and Prerenal failure. Because the patient has been working and running, sweating can lead to fluid volume deficit and dehydration. (A) Normal values for Hematocrit for males is 38-50. A hematocrit that demonstrates dehydration would be higher, >50%. When there is less plasma (liquid part of blood) the percentage of RBCs would increase. (B) Glomerular Filtration Rate is the amount of blood filtered by the kidneys per minute. The normal values of GFR is 90-120mL/min, but is most often reported on the laboratory report as >60mL/min, therefore, this patient would have a normal GFR. Kidney disease, not dehydration, is most closely associated with decreased GFR. (C) Creatinine 1.0. Normal value for creatinine is 0.7-1.4, therefore this patient's creatinine is normal. Creatinine is the end product of muscle metabolism. Creatinine is an indicator of renal function. Serum levels increase when renal function decreases, not when a patient is dehydrated.