Certified Nephrology Nurse Certification (CNN) Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive All-in-One Study Guide for Exam Success!

In patients with chronic kidney failure, a common assessment finding is anemia. This occurs primarily due to the kidneys' diminished ability to produce erythropoietin, a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. As kidney function deteriorates, the reduced levels of erythropoietin lead to decreased red blood cell production, ultimately resulting in anemia.

Chronic kidney failure also affects iron metabolism and can lead to a functional iron deficiency, further exacerbating the anemia. Symptoms of anemia in these patients may include fatigue, weakness, and pallor, which are important for healthcare providers to recognize and address in the management of chronic kidney disease.

In contrast, hypokalemia is often less common in chronic kidney failure; more frequently, patients can experience hyperkalemia due to potassium retention. Dehydration can occur in various clinical situations but is not a specific assessment finding associated with chronic kidney failure. Hypercalcemia is seen in certain conditions, particularly those affecting calcium metabolism, but it is also not a typical finding in chronic kidney failure, where hypocalcemia is often more prevalent due to the kidneys' role in calcium homeostasis.