In this instructional video, the presenter explains blood urea nitrogen (BUN), a laboratory value that reflects kidney function. BUN is a waste product—urea nitrogen—produced by the liver when protein is metabolized and released into the bloodstream, where the kidneys normally filter it out into urine. A normal BUN level ranges from 7 to 20 mg/dL. The video details how declining kidney function leads to reduced clearance of urea nitrogen, causing BUN to rise in the blood, and emphasizes that an elevated BUN should prompt nurses to consider renal impairment. The presenter frames BUN as a key lab value that nursing students must master for med‑surg, renal, and cardiac coursework and exam preparation, while also promoting the Nursing SOS membership for additional study resources. The tone is instructional with a supportive, encouraging attitude toward learners.
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In this video we're going to break down what blood urea nitrogen is also known as bun, what it stands for and what it means for your patients. In this lab value series, the kidneys and the kidney lab values are a big deal and they impact many things in the body. So you will definitely be tested on them a ton. In nursing school, it can be kind of tricky to learn how all of it works and how it all ties together. So I'm going to give you a breakdown on what BUN is and why it's so important to pay attention to. So let's dive in. So before we walk through exactly what BUN is, we first need to understand a few key things about the kidneys. So the kidneys are one big filter. Basically it's their job to filter out and get rid of waste products and excess fluid from the body. Without the kidneys, toxic waste products would build up in the blood and cause a lot of problems. It's super, super important for you to know how to tell when something is wrong with the kidneys and what it all. So let's start with bun, which is also called blood urea nitrogen. So what exactly is urea nitrogen? Urea nitrogen is a waste product created by the liver as protein is broken down and metabolized in the body. So the liver makes all this urea nitrogen and sends it out into the blood to then be filtered out by the kidneys. This is why monitoring this value can help tell us how the kidneys are functioning. If the kidneys are working properly, they're working well. They should be filtering out this blood urea nitrogen. A normal blood urea nitrogen or bun level should be between 7-20mg per deciliter. So let's walk through how this all works and of course if you are having a tough time understanding your med surg disorders in nursing school, especially the kidney disorders and the cardiac disorders, because those can be really tricky. I am here to help you out as always. We have hundreds of step by step nursing lectures and loads of cheat sheets and study guides all inside the nursing SOS membership community for you. It's all there to help you pass your exams. You know that I'm here to help you pass nursing school. So that's exactly what we do. Now I'll put the link to that below in the description for you to check out all the details if you are interested and I would love to see you inside. So here's how BUN and the kidneys work. The kidneys are responsible for filtering out this waste product, Right. The urea nitrogen. So if the kidney function declines, we what can we expect to happen to the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood? Well, the blood urea nitrogen level will start to increase, right? Since the kidneys aren't able to function as well and excrete as much of it out into the urine, it gets reabsorbed into the blood, increasing the BUN level in the body. So as the kidney function decreases, you'll see the BUN start increase because it's building up more and more in the blood rather than just being excreted out into the urine, which is what's supposed to happen happen. Makes sense, right? If the kidneys aren't functioning, that urea nitrogen will build up and build up in the blood, so that bu1 level will increase. This is why it is so important to keep an eye on this lab value. Monitoring the amount of waste products, specifically that urine nitrogen building up in the blood. It will give you an indication at how well the kidneys are filtering the blood. So here's your key point. If you see a BUN that is increased, think about the kidneys and what might be happening with them that could be causing that BUN level to increase in the body. Now, BUN is only one of a lot of lab values that you need to know about in nursing school. So click on this video here and I will walk you through several others that you absolutely need to know to pass your nursing school exams. And if you like this video, hit that like button and write love in the comments below to let me know, because that is how we do it around here. And as always, my friend, go become the nurse that God created only you to be. And I will see you over there in the that next video.
