Which action aligns with the care plan for a patient with chemotherapy-related nephrotoxicity?

Which action aligns with the care plan for a patient with chemotherapy-related nephrotoxicity?

• A. Monitoring BUN and creatinine levels
• B. Initiating high-dose dopamine therapy
• C. Withholding all fluids permanently
• D. Restarting chemotherapy immediately without assessment

Answer: (A)

Monitoring kidney function with BUN and creatinine levels is the best fit here because it directly tracks how well the kidneys are filtering after chemotherapy exposure. Chemotherapy-related nephrotoxicity can cause acute kidney injury, and rising BUN and creatinine signal that renal clearance is slipping. Regularly checking these values, starting from baseline and continuing throughout treatment, helps guide critical decisions: whether to adjust or delay the next chemotherapy dose, to pursue heightened hydration, or to implement other kidney-protective measures. In practice, seeing elevated or rising levels prompts interventions to support the kidneys and prevent further injury, rather than pushing ahead with treatment or using unproven therapies. Dopamine therapy at high doses has not proven renal protection in this context and can introduce unnecessary risks. Withholding all fluids permanently would be harmful, since hydration supports kidney function and helps mitigate nephrotoxicity. Restarting chemotherapy immediately without assessing renal function would risk worsening injury and is not appropriate until renal function is stable or improved.

Monitoring kidney function with BUN and creatinine levels is the best fit here because it directly tracks how well the kidneys are filtering after chemotherapy exposure. Chemotherapy-related nephrotoxicity can cause acute kidney injury, and rising BUN and creatinine signal that renal clearance is slipping. Regularly checking these values, starting from baseline and continuing throughout treatment, helps guide critical decisions: whether to adjust or delay the next chemotherapy dose, to pursue heightened hydration, or to implement other kidney-protective measures. In practice, seeing elevated or rising levels prompts interventions to support the kidneys and prevent further injury, rather than pushing ahead with treatment or using unproven therapies.

Dopamine therapy at high doses has not proven renal protection in this context and can introduce unnecessary risks. Withholding all fluids permanently would be harmful, since hydration supports kidney function and helps mitigate nephrotoxicity. Restarting chemotherapy immediately without assessing renal function would risk worsening injury and is not appropriate until renal function is stable or improved.