Low Sodium? What are the dangers? What is the fix?

[DutchgirlRN]

We have an 85 year old woman on the floor with pneumonia. She is not on any diuretics or anti-epileptic meds, no vomitting, no diarrhea. Her sodium continues to drop. A couple of days ago it was 126, then 123, yesterday 122. I told the nurse you need to call the doctor. She was like, well he was here this morning, he should have seen that sodium level. I said no "call". What are the dangers of having a low sodium level? What is usually done about it? Can you salt the patients food or is that too simplistic? She told me he ordered some urine testing and change the IV to NS. She had been on 1/2NS. The patient has a past hx of CHF.

[globalRN]

being on 1/2 ns when she is hyponatremic is part of the problem.

that gives her more water than salt...last thing she needs.

usually can correct low sodium that is not symptomatic and >121 with n/s iv, water restriction

and some free salt in her food, salty broth soups , table salt , v8 juice etc