Fluid & Electrolytes

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Im having what's called , "The Dreaded Exam," in my nursing program....Fluid & Electrolytes. Every one whom I've talked to about it says it's pretty hard, from students to instructors. I'm reaching out to any one who has been successful in this area, to please supply me with some good sound study tips so that I have a chance at scoring decent on this exam. I'm so intimidated by it right now :chair:...I just want to do well! Any suggestions?

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Yeah, I've got that next week. I've looked through the chapter. No worries. The chapter is basically the same as the content of a similar course entitled "shock and fluid therapy" that I had in paramedic school. I think to learn it you only have to stop and think about it. Read it. Mull it over. The material isn't that difficult, and it's rather interesting. I think a lot of the difficulty stems from others calling it difficult. If you've got a good science background, particularly in chemistry, it won't be hard.

Case in point, when I was at the police academy the block of instruction over accident investigation was the dreaded event. It was said to be grossly difficult bringing on an unwieldy amount of information and "mathematical formulas." It wasn't hard. People only had trouble with because others told them they'd find it hard. We even had a guy skip out one night while we were all asleep in the barracks because he thought he couldn't do it.

Like I said, just read it and think about it. Learn to apply it, and you'll get it.

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Specializes in CNA.

S

Im having what's called , "The Dreaded Exam," in my nursing program....Fluid & Electrolytes. Every one whom I've talked to about it says it's pretty hard, from students to instructors. I'm reaching out to any one who has been successful in this area, to please supply me with some good sound study tips so that I have a chance at scoring decent on this exam. I'm so intimidated by it right now :chair:...I just want to do well! Any suggestions?

The people who did well on our F & E exams are the ones who did not just "memorize and forget" their way through A & P and Chemistry. So the groundwork for you has already been laid.

Even so, ALL students must give themselves time to study, think about, and absorb this material. Use all the resources you can - your med surg book, Fluid and Elec made EZ, Saunders, Davis, Kaplan.

Through the process, test yourself. Make notecards if that's your thing, but drill, drill, drill. Organize productive study groups and test each other. Take the time and take it seriously because this stuff is NOT going away.

Good luck.

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dont go to indepth. i went for overkill and it was a waste of time. big thing is hypo/hyper kalemia and natremia. also fluid overload, and dehydration its the most common. depends on your professor. know how to tell the the hypo from the hyper conditions why things happen like how the patient caused their situation

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fluids and electrolytes:

the 6 important electrolytes:

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Daytonite posted these links in another Theard..I thought theses might help you.
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No sheet for chloride??

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Here was the study guide I made for the F&E exam, along with ABGs. I compiled our class notes, a few websites and tips from this site. I make pretty thorough outlines for exams. Despite that, I still got a B on the exam and several classmates failed. I haven't found anyone who will admit to anything higher than a "B" yet.

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Thank you guys!!! I really am grateful that you took the time to offer your assistance!! I feel pretty confidentnthat with all the info you've given me, coupled with the hours I've spent studying, I should do well on this exam! Thanks again!

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OMG! Just found this. LuckyinKY, thank you so much for sharing your hard work with us....I know that took many hours to compile. You ROCK!

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

F&E's can be a difficult concept but still a very important part of nursing. Know the differences between isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic.

Isotonic solutions have the same osmolality as plasma. Because of this, no osmotic pressure difference is created and fluid primarily stays in the ECF compartment. It's main use is to replace extracellular fluid and lyte losses and to expand the vascular compartment. Solutions include

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