If BUN levels are elevated, which condition should be checked for?

When BUN (blood urea nitrogen) levels are elevated, one of the primary conditions to assess for is dehydration. BUN is a marker of kidney function but is also influenced by hydration status. When the body is dehydrated, the concentration of urea in the blood increases because the kidneys retain water, leading to less dilution of urea in the bloodstream.

In cases of dehydration, the volume of fluid in the body decreases, which can cause the BUN level to rise as the kidneys work to conserve water. Therefore, checking for dehydration is crucial when encountering elevated BUN levels.

While kidney failure also contributes to elevated BUN, dehydration is often a more immediate and prevalent cause that can be resolved with fluid replacement. This distinction makes dehydration a primary concern to confirm when BUN levels are found to be high. It is essential for nursing assessments and interventions to consider hydration status when interpreting laboratory results.