fluid/electrolyte balance? i'm clueless

shrimpchips, LPN · Feb 19, 2009

There are some really good fluid & electrolyte websites in this thread:

https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/pathophysiology-p-microbiology-145201.html

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2009

make charts, flashcards or whatever helps you memorize. go over them frequently. this stuff needs to be reviewed constantly until it gets cemented into your brain. it helps to take care of a patient with symptoms of any of the problems to help you see these symptoms. the symptoms of dehydration are listed with the nursing diagnosis of deficient fluid volume as the defining characteristics. the symptoms of overhydration are listed with the nursing diagnosis of excess fluid volume as the defining characteristics. because sodium follows water, if there is too much water (overhydration), there will be too much sodium (hypernatremia), so the symptoms will be the same; if there is too little water (dehydration), there will be too little sodium (hyponatremia), and the symptoms will be the same. now, you just need to learn about the other 5 electrolytes. i always felt potassium was the easiest because when it goes out of whack it results in all kinds of cardiac problems. i saw a patient who had hypocalcemia carpopedal spasms and i never forgot how that poor woman suffered until we gave her iv calcium that reversed the effects of that almost immediately.

i failed the electrolyte portion of the national certification exam in iv therapy when i was first trying to get certified in that specialty. i read fluid & electrolyte balance: nursing considerations by norma m. metheny from cover to cover at the time and still had problems with it and she goes through each electrolyte in her book as well as specific medical conditions. this stuff is not easy.