Fluid and Electrolyte Balance

Flashcards generated from lecture notes on Fluid and Electrolyte Balance.

What are electrolytes?

Minerals or salts dissolved in body fluid, also known as ions with electrical charges.

What type of charge do cations have?

Positive charge

What type of charge do anions have?

Negative charge

Why are infants and the elderly more affected by changes in fluid balance?

They are more affected by changes in fluid balance due to their systems either building up (babies) or breaking down (elderly).

What key roles does water play in the body?

Circulatory system, transport of electrolytes, kidney function, and digestion

What are the primary sources of water intake?

Drinking water and consuming foods with high water content

What are the main routes of water output from the body?

Urine, sweat, feces, and breathing

What are electrolytes composed of?

Minerals and salts dissolved in body fluid that are ions.

What are the major electrolytes discussed in the lecture?

Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, and phosphate

What is the primary function of sodium in the body?

Water regulation and balance.

Why is potassium important?

Important for heart rhythm.

What functions does potassium play in the body?

Heart rhythm, nerve impulse, muscle contraction

What are the major roles of calcium in the body?

Muscle activity and blood coagulation.

What functions does magnesium support in the body?

Nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and blood coagulation.

What is the role of chloride?

Helps maintain acid-base balance.

What does phosphate contribute to in the body?

ATP production (energy).

What is the normal range for sodium?

135-145

What is the normal range for potassium?

3.5-5.0

What is the normal range for calcium?

8.5-10.5

What are examples of non-electrolytes?

Amino acids, glucose, and fatty acids.

What is the normal blood volume in the body?

Four to six liters.

What are the components of blood?

Erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells), and thrombocytes (platelets), carried in plasma.

What affects circulation?

Plasma volume

Where is the majority of water located in the body?

Inside the cell.

Where is water located outside the cell?

Vascular system, interstitial spaces, and transcellular fluid.

What electrolyte is high in extracellular fluid?

Sodium

What does intravascular fluid contain to maintain volume?

Protein and electrolytes.

Provide examples of transcellular fluid.

Fluids in cavities of the body, saliva, and fluids in the urinary tract.

Where does the majority of water output occur?

Kidneys and bladder through urine.

Where does the thirst sensation originate?

Hypothalamus

What hormone causes the body to retain fluid?

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH).

What does ADH cause?

Fluid retention.

What is ANP?

Atrial natriuretic peptide

What does ANP do?

Protects from fluid overload.

What primarily affects fluid and electrolyte balance or imbalance?

Kidney Function

What assists patients whose kidneys are not working?

Dialysis Machine

What are some causes of fluid deficits?

Loss of excessive fluid from vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, or excessive wound drainage.

How do we treat dehydration?

IV Fluids administered carefully.

What can occur when the body is slammed with fluids when dehydrated?

Shock, cardiac arrest.

What are signs and symptoms of dehydration?

Thirst, fatigue, dizziness.

What does urine look like when one is dehydrated?

Concentrated and small.

What pulse is present when dehydrated?

Weak Pulse

What triggers symptoms of dehydration?

Triggered by less plasma and increased production of ADH.

What are risks of too much fluid?

Giving IV fluids too fast or overproduction of hormones.

What is excessive volume called?

Hypervolemia

What are symptoms of neurologial overhydration?

Headaches and change in the level of conciousness

What pulse is present when overhydrated?

Bounding Pulse

What is pulmonary congestion?

The fluid can start to collect in the lungs

What is swelling throughout the body called?

Edema

What lab value gives us the most electrolytes?

Complete Metabolic Panel

What do providers usually order to monitor electrolyte balance?

Daily CMP.

Why is it important to administer daily weights?

To see amount of fluid retained.

What is a diuretic?

Help patient pee out excess fluid.

How much urine should a patient produce an hour?

A minimum of 30 mL.

Should fluid intake should be slightly more or less than their output?

Slightly more

What types of wounds could cause excessive amounts of fluid loss

Burn wounds

Give three examples of skin symptoms due to dehydration

Dry mucous membranes, thick saliva, poor skin turgor

Give an example of a heart condition can cause people to retain fluid

Congestive Heart Failure

What labs would show fluid retension?

CMP

A nursing diagnosis could be fluid volume deficit or fluid volume excess.

Interventions for a fluid volume issue

CHF - congestive heart failure, may be on a fluid restriction. What do they typically do

Limits fluids

When there is a fluid deficit what do administrations should be done

You administer fluids

Electrolyte Values should be monitored, what would the order be?

Monitor Electrolyte Value CMP

Why is this a diagnosis? CHF - congestive heart failure can gain a few pounds in a day to two

Daily Weights

Which diuretic will only lose the sodium and not potassium?

Potassium sparring

A minimum of 30 mLs, what should a nurse to if its at that level?

They need to let the doctor know.

The intake of body fluids should be slightly more then what?

The total output

If fluid moves out, where are the electrolytes going?

Water moves out, meaning fluid moves out

Give an example of how someone can lose fluid

Diarrhea

Excessive/ large loss of fluids can come from?

Excessive wound drainage, hemorrhaging, vomiting.

With a patient that has dehydration, their cells start drawing what out in the cell?

Water

Slamming some with fluids too fast, can cause what imbalance?

Fluid electrolyte, and overload

Slamming some quickly with an fluid imbalance can cause what?

Cardiac arrest

What would the characteristics be with a patient who is dehydrated?

Urine being very concentrated and dark

Flat what can signal fluid volume?

Jugular vein

If a paitent are getting enough electrolytes, then the electrolytes are gonna be diluted in the fluid, not as concentrated. But not what?

Sodium

Sometimes a pateint might get what in the lungs?

Crackes in the lungs

A patient fluids gets assessed with?

Urinalysis and Bioscience

To much of volume, should put patient on what?

Fluid restriction

Too much of fluids may cause what hormone ?

Hormones

Someone that drinks to much of what, can cuase the overproduction of hormones

Water