Nursing Care Plan for Chronic Kidney Disease
Also searched as: CKD, chronic renal failure, ESRD
🎓 Educational example. Adapt to your patient and have your instructor review it. Not medical advice.
A progressive, long-term loss of kidney function affecting fluid, electrolyte, and waste balance. Nursing care centers on fluid and electrolyte control, blood-pressure management, and preparing the patient for ongoing treatment.
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Assessment
- Subjective: fatigue, nausea, itching, reduced urine output, reports of dietary/fluid restrictions
- Objective: elevated creatinine/BUN, edema, hypertension, hyperkalemia risk, decreased GFR
Nursing diagnoses
As evidenced by: edema, weight gain, hypertension
Risk factors: rising potassium, altered creatinine/BUN
Goals / expected outcomes
- The patient will maintain fluid balance with stable weight and reduced edema during care.
- The patient will describe the prescribed fluid, diet, and medication plan before discharge.
Nursing interventions & rationale
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Monitor daily weight, intake/output, edema, and blood pressure. | Weight and I&O are the most reliable indicators of fluid status in CKD. |
| Track electrolytes and watch for high potassium; report changes. | Impaired excretion causes dangerous hyperkalemia affecting the heart. |
| Reinforce fluid, sodium, potassium, and protein restrictions as ordered; note that protein is typically liberalized (~1.2 g/kg) once dialysis begins, reversing the pre-dialysis restriction. | Dietary control slows progression and prevents fluid/electrolyte overload pre-dialysis; dialysis removes amino acids and increases protein needs, so continued restriction after starting dialysis risks protein-energy wasting. |
| Administer and teach prescribed medications (e.g., BP agents, phosphate binders). | Blood-pressure and mineral control protect remaining kidney function. |
Evaluation
- Stable weight and reduced edema
- Electrolytes within acceptable limits
- Patient verbalizes diet, fluid, and medication plan
Stop rewriting care plans by hand
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Build a care plan free Preview Pro (coming soon)Chronic Kidney Disease care plan: FAQ
What is the nursing diagnosis for Chronic Kidney Disease?
Common nursing diagnoses include: Excess fluid volume related to reduced kidney excretion; Risk for electrolyte imbalance related to impaired filtration. Choose the one your patient's assessment data supports.
What are nursing interventions for Chronic Kidney Disease?
Key interventions: Monitor daily weight, intake/output, edema, and blood pressure.; Track electrolytes and watch for high potassium; report changes.; Reinforce fluid, sodium, potassium, and protein restrictions as ordered; note that protein is typically liberalized (~1.2 g/kg) once dialysis begins, reversing the pre-dialysis restriction. — each paired with a rationale.
Can I use this care plan for my assignment?
Use it as a study example and starting draft. Always adapt it to your specific patient and have it reviewed by your instructor. This is an educational tool, not medical advice.
For nursing education only — NOT medical advice and not a clinical decision-making tool. Nothing here should be used to assess, diagnose, or treat any real patient. Care plans and answers are unverified study drafts to review with your instructor or a licensed clinician and adapt to the individual patient and your institution’s protocols before any use.
Last reviewed 2026-07. Educational content based on standard nursing practice; not medical advice and not affiliated with NANDA-I/NIC/NOC. Always follow your institution's protocols and your instructor's guidance.