Advise and help on electrolyte imbalances.

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I'm getting ready to take EC's Health Differences exam and need some help determining the electrolyte involved in a stated condition. Several practice tests that I've taken, both from EC and from an NCLEX study guide, have asked questions regarding making a determination of which electrolyte is involved and whether it would be in excess or a deficit based on clinical assessments only, no lab values are given. I've charted all the physical signs for each electrolyte both in excess and deficit and I can see NO clear identifiers. Each has very similar characteristics whether it be weakness, alteration in cerebral function, changes in DTR, etc.

I'm comfortable with knowing the physiology of each electrolyte and their normal values so that's not an issue. I don't know where to go from here, any help would be appreciated.

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Specializes in Trauma, Cardiac Cath/Special procedures.

in other words are you asking,for example, if your pt has low calcium(or any of the other electrolytes) what s/s you would see?

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No, just the opposite. The question would give you outward signs such as mental confusion, general weakness, nausea, etc. They might give something more descriptive such as a positive Trosseau's or Chvostek but several imbalances will have the same sign. Given these descriptors you would need to select the proper underlying condition.

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Specializes in Home Health, Podiatry, Neurology, Case Mgmt.

i'm a little confused on what you are asking...can you give a specific question and then maybe we can answer a little better...the only other thought i can give is probably if the question on the tests just gives you those s/sx, then in your multiple choice answers you are probably only going to have one electrolye and the other answers will be something comepletely different

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