are fluids and electrolytes really THAT bad?

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Specializes in Coronary Care.

I always seem to hear horror stories on this topic from nursing students. I'll be learing it in my class in January so I googled some study guides of it and a lot of the basis seems to be ADH and renin angiotensin etc. I did well on this topic in physiology as far as critical thinking questions went..not just memorization. So is it really that difficult??

Specializes in CVICU.

I just finished 1st semester. Honestly, the hardest part about it for me was remembering all the electrolyte 'normal' values, and signs/symptoms of F&E excesses and deficits (hypernatremia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, etc).

Specializes in Coronary Care.

Gotcha...i just feel like they make it to be that everything about it is just so beyond difficult...but that shouldnt be too bad with practice.

It isn't that it's so HARD per se, it's just that many of the conditions have similar signs/symptoms with minor differences. In addition, we had to learn it all in a week because there was so much else to learn. The thing is, they are the basis for everything else moving forward (essentially) so it's really important to know them

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

If you have a solid background in chemistry & A&P, you should be fine. The most challenging areas are those that concern compensatory mechanisms - how they are triggered (chemical versus hormonal) and such.

Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

If you are struggling, get "Fluid and Electrolytes Made Incredibly Easy." It breaks it down so anyone can understand it.

No, I don't think it's that hard, but I hear a lot of stories of how it's taught poorly. Big difference. The "...Made Incredibly Easy" books are great. I did a small tutorial on F&E which has been posted here on AN several times...people seem to like it. :)

if you're having trouble deciding between acidisis/alkalosis/metabolic/respiratory...go to youtube and type in abg tic tac toe.

Specializes in Acute Rehab, IMCU, ED, med-surg.
If you are struggling get "Fluid and Electrolytes Made Incredibly Easy." It breaks it down so anyone can understand it.[/quote']

I second this advice. Great book! A must read, I kept it for review even after nursing school!

In my experience, what GrnTea said is true. Fluids and electrolytes are often taught poorly. I tend to do well when I'm studying at understanding all of it, but once I'm sitting in front of a test I start getting it all backwards.

Specializes in Forensic Psych.

I didn't find it all that difficult, but I attribute a lot of my understanding to having a background in chemistry and reading Fluid and Electrolytes Made Incredibly Easy.

My professors clearly do NOT have much in the way of chemistry knowledge, and it showed in this case.

Specializes in Coronary Care.

I havent started the material to know if I am struggling or not but I always did well with endocrine pathways knowing what triggers what hormone, what happens when levels increase or decrease, etc.

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