ELECTROLYTES

Here are some flashcards based on the content from the provided PowerPoint files.

Flashcard Set: Fluid & Electrolytes

1. Question: What are the primary body fluids required for homeostasis?
Answer: Blood, serum, albumin, urine, bile, hormones, cerebrospinal fluid.

2. Question: What are the three main mechanisms of fluid movement in the body?
Answer: Osmosis, diffusion, filtration, and active transport.

3. Question: What are the types of intravenous fluids (crystalloids)?
Answer:

  • Isotonic: 0.9% Normal Saline, Lactated Ringer’s

  • Hypotonic: 0.45% Saline, D5 0.45% Saline

  • Hypertonic: 3% Sodium Chloride, D5NS, D5LRS

4. Question: What is the primary function of sodium (Na+) in the body?
Answer: Regulates water balance, maintains osmotic pressure, and helps with nerve impulses.

5. Question: What are the normal serum sodium levels?
Answer: 135-145 mEq/L

6. Question: What causes hypernatremia and its symptoms?
Answer:
Causes: Impaired thirst, dehydration, profuse sweating.
Symptoms: Increased BP, confusion, seizure, coma.

7. Question: What are the normal potassium (K+) levels, and why is it important?
Answer: 3.5-5.0 mEq/L; Vital for cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle function.

8. Question: What are the clinical signs of hypokalemia?
Answer: Cardiac dysrhythmias, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting.

9. Question: What interventions are used to manage hyperkalemia?
Answer:

  • Calcium gluconate

  • Insulin with D50

  • Sodium bicarbonate

  • Loop diuretics

  • Dialysis

10. Question: What are the common causes of fluid volume deficit (FVD)?
Answer: Vomiting, diarrhea, GI suctioning, diuretic therapy, burns, hemorrhage.

11. Question: What are the primary signs and symptoms of FVD?
Answer: Dry mucous membranes, hypotension, tachycardia, diminished skin turgor.

12. Question: What diagnostic tests help identify fluid volume deficit?
Answer:

  • Serum electrolytes (CMP)

  • High creatinine and BUN

  • Urine specific gravity

13. Question: What are the treatment options for fluid volume deficit?
Answer: Oral rehydration (sports drinks), IV fluids (Normal Saline, Lactated Ringer’s).

14. Question: What causes fluid volume excess (FVE)?
Answer: Heart failure, cirrhosis, renal failure, excessive sodium intake, IV fluid overload.

15. Question: What are the symptoms of fluid volume excess?
Answer: Weight gain, edema, JVD, crackles in lungs, hypertension.

16. Question: What interventions are used to manage fluid volume excess?
Answer: Fluid restriction, diuretics, sodium-restricted diet, daily weights.

17. Question: What diuretics are used to treat fluid overload?
Answer:

  • Loop diuretics: Furosemide

  • Thiazide diuretics: Hydrochlorothiazide

  • Potassium-sparing diuretics: Spironolactone

18. Question: What is the role of magnesium in the body?
Answer: Supports neuromuscular function, regulates blood pressure, helps in energy production.

19. Question: What are the causes of hypomagnesemia?
Answer: Malabsorption, alcohol abuse, diuretic use, poor dietary intake.

20. Question: How is hypocalcemia managed?
Answer: Oral calcium carbonate, vitamin D supplementation, IV calcium gluconate for severe cases.

21. Question: What are common signs of electrolyte imbalances?
Answer: Muscle cramps, confusion, fatigue, irregular heart rhythms.

22. Question: How can electrolyte imbalances be prevented?
Answer: Balanced diet, proper hydration, monitoring medications, and electrolyte levels.

23. Question: What are the normal calcium levels in the blood?
Answer: 9-11 mg/dL

24. Question: What are the signs of hypercalcemia?
Answer: Fatigue, kidney stones, constipation, decreased deep tendon reflexes.

25. Question: What is third spacing in fluid balance?
Answer: Fluid shifts to nonfunctional spaces (e.g., edema), leading to hypovolemia.

Here are additional flashcards to expand your understanding of fluid and electrolyte balance:

26. Question: What are the primary functions of body fluids?
Answer: Transport nutrients, regulate body temperature, lubricate joints, and act as a shock absorber.

27. Question: What are the main electrolytes in the body?
Answer: Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Chloride (Cl-), Phosphate (PO4 3-), Bicarbonate (HCO3-).

28. Question: What is osmolality, and why is it important?
Answer: Osmolality measures the concentration of solutes in body fluids, influencing fluid movement and hydration status.

29. Question: What hormones regulate fluid balance?
Answer: Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), aldosterone, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).

30. Question: What are common causes of dehydration in older adults?
Answer: Decreased thirst perception, medication side effects, impaired mobility, chronic illnesses.

31. Question: What is isotonic dehydration?
Answer: Equal loss of water and sodium, commonly seen in vomiting and diarrhea.

32. Question: What causes hypotonic dehydration, and what happens to cells?
Answer: More sodium loss than water, causing cells to swell; seen in diuretic overuse and kidney disease.

33. Question: What causes hypertonic dehydration, and what happens to cells?
Answer: More water loss than sodium, causing cells to shrink; seen in fever and excessive sweating.

34. Question: What are the major risk factors for fluid imbalances?
Answer: Surgery, chronic diseases, burns, medications (diuretics), aging, and poor dietary intake.

35. Question: How does the body compensate for fluid volume deficit (FVD)?
Answer: Increased heart rate, vasoconstriction, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS).

36. Question: How is fluid volume deficit diagnosed?
Answer: Through lab tests like hematocrit (high), serum osmolality (high), and urine specific gravity (high).

37. Question: What are the signs of fluid volume excess in the lungs?
Answer: Crackles, dyspnea, orthopnea, and pulmonary edema.

38. Question: How does heart failure contribute to fluid volume excess (FVE)?
Answer: The heart cannot pump effectively, leading to fluid retention and venous congestion.

39. Question: What is the treatment for severe hyponatremia?
Answer: Administration of hypertonic saline (3%) with careful monitoring to prevent rapid correction.

40. Question: What are the signs of severe hyperkalemia?
Answer: Peaked T waves, widened QRS, muscle weakness, and cardiac arrest.

41. Question: What foods are high in potassium?
Answer: Bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach, and tomatoes.

42. Question: What is the relationship between calcium and phosphorus?
Answer: They have an inverse relationship; when calcium levels increase, phosphorus levels decrease.

43. Question: What causes hypocalcemia?
Answer: Hypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, renal disease, and low magnesium levels.

44. Question: What are the classic signs of hypocalcemia?
Answer: Trousseau's sign (hand spasm with BP cuff), Chvostek's sign (facial twitching), muscle cramps, tetany.

45. Question: What are the functions of magnesium in the body?
Answer: ATP production, neuromuscular function, blood pressure regulation, and immune support.

46. Question: What medications can cause hypomagnesemia?
Answer: Diuretics, proton pump inhibitors, and laxatives.

47. Question: What are the causes of hyperphosphatemia?
Answer: Chronic kidney disease (CKD), excessive intake of phosphate-rich foods, and tumor lysis syndrome.

48. Question: What interventions are used for hyperphosphatemia?
Answer: Phosphate binders, dietary restriction, and dialysis in severe cases.

49. Question: What is the normal range for serum osmolality?
Answer: 275-295 mOsm/kg.

50. Question: What dietary changes can help manage fluid volume excess?
Answer: Low-sodium diet, fluid restriction, avoiding processed foods.

51. Question: What are early signs of dehydration in infants?
Answer: Sunken fontanels, no tears when crying, dry mouth, and decreased urine output.

52. Question: How does the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) regulate fluid balance?
Answer: It increases sodium and water retention to raise blood volume and pressure.

53. Question: What are the risks of rapid correction of sodium imbalances?
Answer: Osmotic demyelination syndrome (for hyponatremia) and cerebral edema (for hypernatremia).

54. Question: What is third-spacing, and how is it treated?
Answer: Fluid accumulation in nonfunctional spaces (e.g., ascites); treated with diuretics and albumin.

55. Question: What interventions should be prioritized for a patient with severe dehydration?
Answer: IV fluid resuscitation, electrolyte monitoring, and addressing the underlying cause.

56. Question: What role does bicarbonate play in acid-base balance?
Answer: It acts as a buffer to maintain pH homeostasis in the blood.

57. Question: How does stress affect fluid and electrolyte balance?
Answer: Increases ADH secretion, leading to fluid retention and electrolyte disturbances.

58. Question: What are key nursing assessments for fluid and electrolyte imbalances?
Answer: Daily weights, I&O monitoring, skin turgor, capillary refill, mental status, and lab values.

59. Question: What are insensible fluid losses, and how do they occur?
Answer: Losses through the skin and lungs via sweating and respiration, not easily measurable.

60. Question: Why are older adults at higher risk for dehydration?
Answer: Decreased thirst perception, renal function decline, and use of medications like diuretics.

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