a pt has been diagnosed with acute renal failure, and during the course of my shift, he voices many questions and concerns, and he asked why this has happened to him? pls how do i respond as his nurse (i am an lpn). do i explain what the disease is all about or what should i tell him

Is this for work, or is it for school?

Do you know the cause of ARF for this patient? If you don't know the exact cause you cannot explain.

Usually when I don't have an answer for a patient I refer them to the MD. I will say those are great questions for the doctor to answer for you next time he is in your room.

You can't explain if you don't really know. There are many differing causes for acute and chronic renal failure. His renal function will eventually return, but you either need to contact a renal clinical nurse/CNS or they need to talk to their doctor.

Is he on temporary dialysis? Maybe that is why he has so many questions. Can a dialysis nurse help?

Refer him to his doctor for complicated medical questions - I give general explanations for some conditions, but he really needs to ask his treating doctor.

I smell homework

I'd tell him he sinned and God is punishing him.

thanks for the response! it helped a great deal, and gave me a sense of where to direct the pt's questions to.

thanks for the response! it helped a great deal, and gave me a sense of where to direct the pt's questions to.

Really?

IMO...he either has done something currently or in the past that is catching up with him. Or something hereditary.