Blunt renal trauma.

Severe blunt renal injuries threaten the patient's life with severe complications such as hemorrhage, infection, and the loss of renal function. The critical care nurse's role in the assessment of the patient focuses on evaluating the patient's response to the initial injury, the ongoing assessment of the patient's urinary function, assessing the degree and quality of the patient's pain, and observing the patient's trend in vital signs. The nurse is also responsible for determining the patient's response to diagnostic procedures, providing emotional support, and explaining diagnostic tests and procedures. By supporting compensatory mechanisms, the critical care nurse minimizes the potential for hemodynamic compromise, infection, and diminished renal function. Another important patient care consideration is the maintenance of urinary drainage, to allow assessment of urine and promote excretion of wastes. In all of these aspects of patient care, the critical care nurse is a key member of the trauma team who has a strong impact on the recovery of the patient with blunt renal trauma.