Fundamentals of Nursing: Nutrition, Fluids, Electrolytes, and Elimination

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental clinical concepts of nutrition, enteral/parenteral therapy, fluid volume disorders, electrolyte imbalances, and urinary/bowel elimination.

MyPlate Food Management System

The USDA food management system that replaced MyPyramid; divides dietary guidelines into 5 basic food groups: Protein, Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Dairy.

Proteins

Nutrients essential for building body tissue during growth, maintenance, and cellular repair.

Carbohydrates

The primary source of energy in the diet, yielding $4\text{ Kcal}$ per $1\text{ Gm}$, categorized into simple and complex forms.

Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDL)

Known as "bad cholesterol," these lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout the body and deposit it in arteries; the therapeutic goal is less than $100\text{ mg/dL}$.

High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL)

Known as "good cholesterol," these lipoproteins carry cholesterol back to the liver to be excreted; the therapeutic goal is greater than $60\text{ mg/dL}$.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins that dissolve in fat and can be stored in the body, consisting of Vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Water-Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins consisting of the Vitamin B and C complexes that dissolve in water and cannot be stored in the body.

Major Minerals

Inorganic elements present in the human body in amounts greater than $5\text{ grams}$, including calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

Trace Minerals

Inorganic elements present in the body in amounts less than $5\text{ grams}$, including iron, iodine, zinc, fluoride, and copper.

Body Mass Index (BMI) Classifications

A standardized assessment where underweight is less than $18.5$, normal is $18.5\text{--}24.9$, overweight is $25\text{--}29$, and obese is $30$ or greater.

Clear Liquid Diet

A therapeutic diet consisting of transparent, pulp-free liquids that are liquid at room temperature (e.g., water, broth, fruit juices, gelatin, popsicles, tea, coffee) to provide simple carbohydrates and hydration.

Full Liquid Diet

A therapeutic diet containing all items allowed on a clear liquid diet plus opaque liquids and foods that become liquid at room temperature, such as milk, pudding, ice cream, and cooked cereals.

Mechanical Soft Diet

A diet indicated for patients with chewing difficulties that includes cooked vegetables, ground meats, scrambled eggs, and cottage cheese in addition to full liquids.

Residual Gastric Volume

The volume of fluid aspirated from a feeding tube before a feeding; feedings are typically held if the residual volume exceeds $100\text{ mL}$, and aspirated fluid is returned to prevent electrolyte depletion.

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)

Hypertonic intravenous nutrition delivering high concentrations of glucose, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals directly into the circulation via a central venous catheter for patients who cannot absorb nutrients enterally.

Partial Parenteral Nutrition (PPN)

A less concentrated parenteral nutrition solution administered via a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) for patients who can meet a portion of their nutritional needs orally.

Electrolytes

Minerals or salts dissolved in body fluids that regulate fluid balance, maintain acid-base balance, and facilitate enzyme and neuromuscular functions.

Hyperkalemia

A serum potassium level above $5.0\text{ mEq/L}$ (dangerous at $>7\text{ mEq/L}$), manifested by tall peaked T waves, muscle weakness, flaccid paralysis, and cardiac dysrhythmias.

Hypokalemia

A serum potassium level below $3.5\text{ mEq/L}$ (critical at $\le 2.5\text{ mEq/L}$), characterized by the "7 L's" (lethargy, low shallow respirations, lethal cardiac dysrhythmias, lots of urine, leg cramps, limp muscles, low BP/heart rate).

Hypernatremia

A serum sodium level greater than $145\text{ mEq/L}$, which pulls water out of cells and leads to cellular dehydration, restlessness, extreme thirst, and dry skin/mucous membranes.

Hyponatremia

A serum sodium level below $135\text{ mEq/L}$, which can cause cellular swelling, confusion, seizures, stupor, abdominal cramping, and decreased deep tendon reflexes.

Chvostek's Sign

Twitching or spasm of facial muscles elicited by tapping over the facial nerve in front of the ear, indicating hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia.

Trousseau's Sign

Involuntary carpopedal spasm of the hand and wrist induced by inflating a blood pressure cuff above systolic blood pressure for $3\text{ minutes}$, indicative of hypocalcemia.

Calcium and Phosphate Relationship

An inverse physiological relationship in which high serum phosphorus levels cause calcium levels to decrease, and vice versa.

Hypercalcemia

A serum calcium level greater than $11\text{ mg/dL}$, causing profound muscle weakness, shortened QT intervals, absent reflexes, constipation, and risk of kidney stone formation.

Hypocalcemia

A serum calcium level below $9\text{ mg/dL}$, manifested by neuromuscular irritability, hyperactive reflexes, prolonged QT intervals, tetany, and positive Trousseau's and Chvostek's signs.

Hypermagnesemia

A serum magnesium level greater than $2.1\text{ mEq/L}$, resulting in depression of the central nervous system, lethargy, diminished deep tendon reflexes, hypotension, and respiratory or cardiac arrest.

Hypomagnesemia

A serum magnesium level below $1.3\text{ mEq/L}$, resulting in neuromuscular excitability, tremors, hyperreflexia, seizures, and lethal cardiac dysrhythmias such as Torsades de pointes.

Isotonic IV Solutions

Intravenous fluids with an osmolarity equal to blood plasma (e.g., $0.9\%\text{ Normal Saline}$, Lactated Ringer's, $5\%\text{ Dextrose in Water}$) that expand intravascular volume without shifting fluid across cellular membranes.

Hypotonic IV Solutions

Intravenous fluids with an osmolarity lower than blood plasma (e.g., $0.45\%\text{ Normal Saline}$) that cause fluid to move out of the vascular space and into the cells.

Hypertonic IV Solutions

Intravenous fluids with an osmolarity higher than blood plasma (e.g., $3\%\text{ Saline}$, $10\%\text{ Dextrose in Water}$, Mannitol) that pull water out of cells into the intravascular space.

IV Infiltration

The escape of non-vesicant intravenous fluid into subcutaneous tissue surrounding the venipuncture site, presenting as coolness, pallor, and edema.

IV Phlebitis

Inflammation of a vein associated with intravenous therapy, characterized by localized heat, erythema, tenderness, and red streaking along the path of the vein.

Oliguria

A diminished urinary output of less than $30\text{ mL/hr}$.

Polyuria

Excessive production and excretion of urine, defined as greater than $3000\text{ mL/day}$.

Anuria

The complete absence or minimal excretion of urine.

Dysuria

Difficult or painful urination.

Specific Gravity of Urine

A measurement of the concentration of dissolved substances in urine compared to pure water, with normal values between $1.010\text{ and }1.030$.

Fracture Bedpan

A low-profile, flatter bedpan designed specifically for patients who cannot raise their hips, such as those recovering from hip or back surgery.

Clean-Catch Midstream Specimen

A urine specimen collected in a sterile container after the perineum has been cleansed and the initial urine stream has already begun, avoiding contamination.

Frank Blood (Stool)

Bright red, visible blood in the stool, typically originating from the distal colon, rectum, or anus due to conditions such as hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, or colitis.

Occult Blood (Melena)

Hidden blood in feces that darkens the stool to a black or tarry appearance, usually indicating bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract and detected via guaiac testing.

Steatorrhea

The presence of an abnormally high amount of undigested fat in the stool, making it greasy, frothy, foul-smelling, or pale, commonly caused by malabsorption disorders.

Fecal Impaction

A hard, dry mass of stool lodged in the distal colon or rectum that cannot be passed voluntarily, potentially causing liquid stool leakage around the mass.

Borborygmi

Excessively loud, hyperactive, gurgling bowel sounds indicating increased intestinal motility or early mechanical bowel obstruction.

Cleansing Enema

An enema utilizing solutions such as tap water, normal saline, soapsuds, or sodium phosphate (Fleet) to distend the colon, stimulate peristalsis, and clear the bowel.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (Enema Complication)

A parasitic reflex triggered during rectal manipulation or enema administration, evidenced by bradycardia ($\text{pulse } < 60\text{ bpm}$), chest pain, dizziness, pallor, and diaphoresis, requiring immediate cessation of the procedure.

Ileostomy

A surgical opening that diverts the small intestine onto the abdomen, resulting in continuous liquid fecal drainage (effluent).

Colostomy

A surgical opening that diverts the large intestine through the abdominal wall, producing effluent that ranges from liquid to formed depending on the anatomical location.