Fluid and Electrolyte Patho

[hburatti85]

I have a pathophysiology paper due that is on Fluid and Electrolytes. I'm not sure what to do considered it's not an actual disease or singular process. I would understand if it was a patho on an imbalance but it's not. I've even referenced my Pathophysiology book, my Fluid and Electrolytes Made incredibly Easy, and my Textbooks. (Oh and ofcourse the internet)

[choc0late]

You could probably do it on a patho type thing. Like say someone who was put on Lasix and now is suffering from hyponatremia. Use a medical condition someone has and than the med they are taking for it is causing this F & E problem maybe?

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

We had to do a F&E-based paper for my adult med-surg class. We had to choose 2 fluid problems and 2 electrolyte problems, but we couldn't use "hyper/hypovolemia" (or risk for) or hyper/hypo[electrolyte] (or risk for). I'm not going to give you the entire background from my patient, but here were the diagnoses that I used:

1. Risk for pulmonary edema r/t fluid volume overload.

2. Risk for impaired skin integrity r/t fluid volume overload.

3. Risk for injury r/t muscle weakness and fatigue (I chose hypokalemia for my electrolyte problem)

4. Constipation r/t smooth muscle atony aeb pt verbalization of hard to pass stools.

We had to think of actual signs and symptoms of hyper/hypovolemia and electrolyte problems and formulate them into the diagnoses. We had to explain the signs and symptoms associated with the problems, what symptoms the patient had, and the pathophysiology.

I highly recommend Reviews & Rationales Fluids, Electrolytes & Acid Base Balance. That book really helped me write this paper.