fluid and electrolytes

[brunny]

anyone have an easy way to remember fluid and electrolytes. the more i read the more confused i get thank you so much:bugeyes:

[GingerSue]

Start with understanding the body fluid compartments (ICF, ECF, and transcellular space).

Then the electrolytes - the cations and anions (compare components of ICF, ECF {interstitial, intravascular [plasma]}

Understand mechanisms of controlling fluid and electrolyte movement (diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport, osmosis, hydrostatic pressure, oncotic pressure)

And regulation of water balance: hypothalamic regulation, pituitary regulation, adrenal cortical regulation, renal regulation, cardiac regulation, GI regulation, and insensible water loss.

Then the imbalances of fluid and electrolytes (hyponatremia, hypernatremia, etc)

[Granolagirl17]

It can be very confusing especially considering the s/s of imbalances since they seem to overlap and blend. How to tell the hypo/hypers apart? Our instructor shared a "down and dirty" method of categorizing the imbalances - she said they are either "floppy" with decreased reflexes, fatigue, etc or "twitchy" with increased reflexes, cramps, etc...

Hyponatremia/Hypokalemia - Floppy

Hypernatremia/Hyperkalemia -Twitchy

Hypocalmeia/Hypomagnesemia - Twitchy

Hypercalcemia/Hypermagnesemia-Floppy

Once we had a "general" idea of how the imbalances trended as far as s/s, it was easier to plug in the specifics and make sense of them.

Hope that helps.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Mnenomics are your friend when it comes to electrolyte imbalances. You can find lots of them out there (e.g., the CATS of hypocalcemia).

To be honest, I find it more effective to make up my own mnenomics instead of using ones I find--that way, they mean more to me and I remember them better. But if ones you find work for you, then by all means, use them! :)