Electrolytes--keeping abnormalities straight

Nursing Students Student Assist

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If anyone could please help me keep hyper/onatremia/hyper/ocalcemia/hyper/okalemiaStraight. Possibly with a mnemonic of some sort, I'd really appreciate it. I've googled images and watched YouTube videos but I can't make them stick. Finals are next week TIA

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I'm not exactly sure what you're asking. Are you having trouble remembering the prefixes (hyper/hypo) or the word root (-natremia/-calcemia)?

For the prefix part, "hypo" rhymes with "low." For remembering hyper, I used to visualize a really hyper kid bouncing off the walls-just too much. í ½í¸‰

For the word roots, "-calcemia" sounds quite a bit like "calcium," doesn't it? For "-natremia" it may be helpful to recall that the chemical symbol for sodium is Na.

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No, the signs and symptoms of each. I have a hard time differenciating between them all.

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Here's some...

Hope this helps!!

F&E Mnemonics.docx

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Oh no! When I click on it, it reads "error message" is there anyway you can send it to me in a message maybe? I would so appreciate it!!!

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Oh no! When I click on it, it reads "error message" is there anyway you can send it to me in a message maybe? I would so appreciate it!!!

I went to PM you but there isn't an option to add a file on there? I'll try resubmitting the file here and see if that works.

F&E Mnemonics.docx

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Simply memorizing the signs and symptoms of these electrolyte imbalances will not get you very far. You need to understand why the imbalances are causing the signs and symptoms, and in order to do that you need to first understand what normal is for these ions and how they move in and out of cells. This should be covered in your textbook and there are plenty of YouTube videos that cover both normal function and imbalances of electrolytes. It might help to draw out what is happening in the intracellular and extracellular spaces when potassium, sodium, and calcium levels are normal in the blood, as well as when they are low or elevated. You will be thankful you put the extra work into truly understanding this when trying to figure out what a patient's labs mean, giving a medication that effects these electrolytes, or taking your NCLEX! Good luck!

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@KrCmommy522 Thank you so much! I tried to PM you but it won't let me until I post more to the page.

Thank you again!! :-)

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Thank you!

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@KrCmommy522 Thank you so much! I tried to PM you but it won't let me until I post more to the page.

Thank you again!! :-)

I got the PM! For some reason it came through anyways! I'll email it right now so I don't forget!

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