Normal blood urea level is -

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2024

Explanation

The range of 6-20 mg/dL represents the standard normal value for Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), a key laboratory test.
BUN is a primary indicator used to assess kidney (renal) function, hydration status, and protein metabolism.
In many clinical and examination settings, the term 'blood urea' is used interchangeably with 'BUN', making this the correct choice among the given options.

Option B: This range is generally considered low. While a value of 10 mg/dL is within the lower limit of normal for some labs, a range of 0-10 mg/dL is not the standard.
Option C: This is an elevated range, a condition known as azotemia, which is pathological.
Option D: This represents a severely elevated BUN level, indicating significant renal impairment.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Normal laboratory values: Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses are responsible for monitoring BUN levels to assess kidney function, hydration status, and the effectiveness of treatments for renal conditions.
An elevated BUN/creatinine ratio (e.g., greater than 20:1) often points towards pre-renal causes like dehydration, while a normal ratio with elevated levels suggests intrinsic kidney damage.
What if? If a patient's BUN is 50 mg/dL and creatinine is 1.0 mg/dL, the high BUN/creatinine ratio (50:1) strongly suggests a pre-renal issue like dehydration rather than primary kidney disease. This would guide the nurse to prioritize interventions like administering IV fluids and monitoring urine output.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question asking for a normal laboratory value.
First, identify the key term in the question: 'blood urea level'.
Recognize that in nursing and medical exams, 'blood urea' is frequently used as a synonym for 'Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)'.
Recall the standard normal range for BUN, which is approximately 6-20 mg/dL or 10-20 mg/dL.
Compare this recalled range with the given options to find the best match.
Eliminate the other options by identifying them as either too low or pathologically high.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Textbook of Biochemistry for medical StudentsDM Vasudevan Part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-239 of 478) p. 52-54

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 6 p. 178-180

E6 Biochemistry U Satyanarayana— Part 2 (pp 421-820 of 840) p. 86-88

Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.