Acute kidney injury
Recognise a change in kidney function and look for reversible causes and urgent complications.
Clinical learning outcomes: Awaiting named clinical review.
What you should learn
- Interpret creatinine in relation to baseline and urine output.
- Identify causes or complications needing urgent review.
Recognise and explain
- Consider perfusion, kidney disease, obstruction and medicines; do not assume every patient needs fluid.
On your placement
Agree the activity and supervision with the clinical team. For patient-facing learning, seek permission and respect the patient’s comfort and care needs.
- Review previous blood results and the fluid balance chart.
- Take a medication history and examine hydration with your supervisor.
- Discuss potassium, urinalysis and whether obstruction needs investigation.
Start here
NICE: detecting AKI and looking for its cause
Read sections 1.3 and 1.4 on detecting AKI and identifying its cause; compare baseline results and urine output in one case.
On your next shift
Explain which finding changed the investigation or management plan.
Go deeper
Optional material. Advanced resources extend discussion; they do not define independent student practice. Check the publication date and compare clinical advice with current guidance.
MLA: assessing and prescribing intravenous fluids
Review fluid assessment, prescription and reassessment with the responsible clinician.
NICE CG174: IV fluids in adults
Use adult-fluid assessment and reassessment when fluids are being considered; an AKI result does not itself prescribe a fluid plan.
How this relates to GMC graduate outcomes and the MLA
These are St Emlyn’s learning connections, not a claim that this page covers every national requirement.
Presentations and conditions: Acute kidney injury; Oliguria.
Clinical and professional capabilities: Assessment and clinical reasoning; Recognising limits and seeking help.
St Emlyn’s interpretation of relevant GMC graduate outcomes and MLA themes; these are summary labels, not official topic codes or a complete curriculum.
Explore the student placement programme
Student practice and graduate expectations
About this resource and its review
A St Emlyn’s guide to learning Emergency Medicine during undergraduate placements. It is not an official medical-school or GMC curriculum. Your medical school’s curriculum and assessment requirements take precedence.
National foundations: GMC Outcomes for Graduates, the practical-skills supplement and the MLA content map applying from September 2026.
Framework checked: 8 October 2026. This is a source check, not clinical sign-off.
Clinical learning outcomes: awaiting named clinical review.
The four learning routes are St Emlyn’s groupings. The six interconnected MLA domains remain part of the official content map.