A patient has developed acute renal failure (ARF) with a 24-hour urine output of 350 ml. The nurse should assess the patient for:

Explanation

• Serum potassium rises as urine output decreases. This puts the patient at risk for cardiac arrhythmias.

• Pruritus can occur from hyperphosphatemia, but this is less severe than cardiac arrhythmias.

• Tetany occurs due to hypocalcemia or hyperphosphatemia.

• Polyphagia does not occur with ARF.

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