NR 570 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS - CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY-ILLINOIS.
What is nephrolithiasis? - (answer)renal calculi (kidney stones)
How does Renal calculi form? - (answer)formed d/t elevated levels of minerals in the body
What minerals in excess can cause renal calculi? - (answer)calcium oxalate (most common),
phosphate
uric acid
struvite
cystine
Urolithiasis - (answer)stone in the bladder
Ureterolithiasis - (answer)condition of stones in the ureter
Risk Factor & complications of renal calculi - (answer)-Male, 20-50yo, previous stones, obesity, HTN,
diabetes, low fluid intake.
-complications of stones: obstructions, pyelonephritis (kidney infection), CKD
Classic Kidney stone presentation - (answer)acute onset of severe, colicky flank pain that wax and wane
in intensity.
Severe pain is associated with the movement of the stone and can cause n/v.
pt may seem anxious and unable to sit still
history and physical for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) - (answer)Irritative Bladder symptoms -dysuria
(painful or difficulty urinating), urgency, & frequency
Vague flank pain or acute colicky pain with increasing intensity
Radiation of pain into the groin
,NR 570 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS - CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY-ILLINOIS.
Costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness
Hematuria
Diaphoretic, tachycardic, appear extremely uncomfortable
CVA tenderness tell your the stone is located where? - (answer)caused by passing of the stone through
the ureter with obstruction & spasm
Where is the stone located if the patient has pain in the groin region? - (answer)pain that radiates
downward into the groin indicates the stone has passed into the lower third of the ureter
Vague flank pain or acute colicky pain with increasing intensity means the stone is located where? -
(answer)stones in renal pelvis
Differential Diagnosis for abdominal pain and/or flank pain: - (answer)Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
Pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
Ectopic pregnancy
Ovarian or testicular torsion
Appendicitis
Bowel obstruction
Diverticulitis
Rupture of aortic aneurysm
Right lower abdominal tenderness with a +Blumberg sign. What should be suspected? -
(answer)Blumberg sign: Rebound tenderness in the RLQ, caused by acute peritonitis.
*Appendicitis
What labs do we run to diagnose a kidney stone? - (answer)UA dipstick, urine microscopy and urine C&S
,NR 570 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS - CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY-ILLINOIS.
Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) to assess renal function.
What radiology methods are preferred for outpatient treatment and why - (answer)inexpensive, easily
accessible. in combo its more practical
-KUB xray
-Renal Ultrasound
What stones can be seen on a KUB?
What stone can you not see on a KUB - (answer)CAN see: Calcium oxalate - most common type of stone
CANNOT see: uric acid stones (radio translucent)
What is a Renal Ultrasound used for when testing for kidney stones? - (answer)good for assessing for
hydronephrosis (excess fluid in the kidney d/t back up of urine that can be caused by an obstruction).
Bad for identifying a stone.
What is the GOLD STANDARD for diagnosing a kidney stone? - (answer)Non-contrast CT scan.
Goal of renal calculi treatment - (answer)focused on symptomatic relief
pain medications -NSAID or narcs
antiemetics -n/v
facilitate stone passage-Thiazide diuretics, alpha-blockers or calcium channel blockers to help facilitate
the passage of a stone. Terazosin -alpha blockers used for BPH.
<5 mm renal calculi can - (answer)be passed through the urine. may only require NSAIDs for
management.
>5 mm renal calculi requires what? - (answer)urology consult.
this may cause an obstruction or kidney failure.
, NR 570 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS - CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY-ILLINOIS.
this type of stone may need surgical intervention to be removed.
when is a Urology Referral indicated? - (answer)stone > 5mm
recurrent stones
When is a hospital admission appropriates for a patient with nephrolithiasis? - (answer)Hospital
admission is indicated when:
-Inability to control pain
-Impaired renal function with an obstructing stone
-Infection (pyelonephritis or sepsis)
-Intractable n/v
What does a 24 hour urine collection analyze? - (answer)-total volume
-urine pH
-calcium oxalate
-uric acid
-citrate
-sodium
-potassium
-creatinine
Factor Regarding hospital DC for nephrolithiasis - (answer)-Pain is reasonably controlled
-n/v controlled
Treatment depends on:
Stone type
Location of the stone
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS - CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY-ILLINOIS.
What is nephrolithiasis? - (answer)renal calculi (kidney stones)
How does Renal calculi form? - (answer)formed d/t elevated levels of minerals in the body
What minerals in excess can cause renal calculi? - (answer)calcium oxalate (most common),
phosphate
uric acid
struvite
cystine
Urolithiasis - (answer)stone in the bladder
Ureterolithiasis - (answer)condition of stones in the ureter
Risk Factor & complications of renal calculi - (answer)-Male, 20-50yo, previous stones, obesity, HTN,
diabetes, low fluid intake.
-complications of stones: obstructions, pyelonephritis (kidney infection), CKD
Classic Kidney stone presentation - (answer)acute onset of severe, colicky flank pain that wax and wane
in intensity.
Severe pain is associated with the movement of the stone and can cause n/v.
pt may seem anxious and unable to sit still
history and physical for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) - (answer)Irritative Bladder symptoms -dysuria
(painful or difficulty urinating), urgency, & frequency
Vague flank pain or acute colicky pain with increasing intensity
Radiation of pain into the groin
,NR 570 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS - CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY-ILLINOIS.
Costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness
Hematuria
Diaphoretic, tachycardic, appear extremely uncomfortable
CVA tenderness tell your the stone is located where? - (answer)caused by passing of the stone through
the ureter with obstruction & spasm
Where is the stone located if the patient has pain in the groin region? - (answer)pain that radiates
downward into the groin indicates the stone has passed into the lower third of the ureter
Vague flank pain or acute colicky pain with increasing intensity means the stone is located where? -
(answer)stones in renal pelvis
Differential Diagnosis for abdominal pain and/or flank pain: - (answer)Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones)
Pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
Ectopic pregnancy
Ovarian or testicular torsion
Appendicitis
Bowel obstruction
Diverticulitis
Rupture of aortic aneurysm
Right lower abdominal tenderness with a +Blumberg sign. What should be suspected? -
(answer)Blumberg sign: Rebound tenderness in the RLQ, caused by acute peritonitis.
*Appendicitis
What labs do we run to diagnose a kidney stone? - (answer)UA dipstick, urine microscopy and urine C&S
,NR 570 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS - CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY-ILLINOIS.
Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) to assess renal function.
What radiology methods are preferred for outpatient treatment and why - (answer)inexpensive, easily
accessible. in combo its more practical
-KUB xray
-Renal Ultrasound
What stones can be seen on a KUB?
What stone can you not see on a KUB - (answer)CAN see: Calcium oxalate - most common type of stone
CANNOT see: uric acid stones (radio translucent)
What is a Renal Ultrasound used for when testing for kidney stones? - (answer)good for assessing for
hydronephrosis (excess fluid in the kidney d/t back up of urine that can be caused by an obstruction).
Bad for identifying a stone.
What is the GOLD STANDARD for diagnosing a kidney stone? - (answer)Non-contrast CT scan.
Goal of renal calculi treatment - (answer)focused on symptomatic relief
pain medications -NSAID or narcs
antiemetics -n/v
facilitate stone passage-Thiazide diuretics, alpha-blockers or calcium channel blockers to help facilitate
the passage of a stone. Terazosin -alpha blockers used for BPH.
<5 mm renal calculi can - (answer)be passed through the urine. may only require NSAIDs for
management.
>5 mm renal calculi requires what? - (answer)urology consult.
this may cause an obstruction or kidney failure.
, NR 570 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS - CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY-ILLINOIS.
this type of stone may need surgical intervention to be removed.
when is a Urology Referral indicated? - (answer)stone > 5mm
recurrent stones
When is a hospital admission appropriates for a patient with nephrolithiasis? - (answer)Hospital
admission is indicated when:
-Inability to control pain
-Impaired renal function with an obstructing stone
-Infection (pyelonephritis or sepsis)
-Intractable n/v
What does a 24 hour urine collection analyze? - (answer)-total volume
-urine pH
-calcium oxalate
-uric acid
-citrate
-sodium
-potassium
-creatinine
Factor Regarding hospital DC for nephrolithiasis - (answer)-Pain is reasonably controlled
-n/v controlled
Treatment depends on:
Stone type
Location of the stone
