Nutrition NUR 112 REVIEW Questions and
Correct Answers
Fluid and electrolyte balance - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Necessary for life
Homeostasis
Nursing role:
Prevention
Treat fluid/electrolyte disturbances
We need a good fluid balance in our lives and a good balance of electrolytes
If you have too much fluid you look: swelling, edema, crackles, plural effusion
If you have not enough fluid: decreased skin turgor, dry lips, decreased urine output, low BP
Fluid in the body - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Approximately 60% of typical adult is fluid
Varies with age, body size, gender
Intracellular fluid: Fluid in the cell
Extracellular fluid
Intravascular
Interstitial
Transcellular
"Third spacing": loss of ECF into space that does not contribute to equilibrium. Lots of edema
but their vitals may not add up with that. May have weeping edema. We can sometimes give a
fluid that draws that fluid back into the vascular space to help this.
,Electrolytes in the body - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Active chemicals that carry positive
(cations), negative (anions) electrical charges
Major cations: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, hydrogen ions
Major anions: chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate, sulfate, proteinate ions
Electrolyte concentrations differ in fluid compartments
Routes of Gains of Fluid and Electrolyte - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Dietary intake of
fluid, food or enteral feeding
Parenteral fluids
Fluid retention
Routes of Loss of Fluid and Electrolytes - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Medications may
cause this
Kidney: urine output
Skin loss: sensible, insensible losses
Lungs
GI tract
Other
Fluid and Electrolyte balance Across the Lifespan - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Reduced
homeostatic mechanisms: cardiac, renal, respiratory function
Decreased body fluid percentage
Medication use
Presence of concomitant conditions
Older adults tend to be dry, have poor skin turgor, their oral mucosa is usually dry, they do not
have the best fluid balance because it is more difficult to maintain
,Infant/Toddlers:
Dehydrate easily...DO NOT REMOVE FLUID QUICKLY
Ensure adequate intake of fluids/electrolytes
Causes:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Geriatric:
Dehydrate easily
Ensure adequate intake of fluids/electrolytes
Causes:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Mental disorders
Infant/Toddlers:
Removing fluid quickly causes pt to decompensate...pt will have tachypnea in excess of >60
breaths/min
Geriatric:
Daily weights
Skin turgor
Slowing of blood flow
Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Fluid volume deficit:
hypovolemia
What are some signs/symptoms of HYPOvolemia?
Decreased BP, increased HR
, Fluid volume excess: hypervolemia
What are some signs/symptoms of HYPERvolemia?
Edema, high BP, fast HR, crackles in the lungs
Fluid Volume Deficit - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Loss of extracellular fluid exceeds
intake ratio of water
Electrolytes lost in same proportion as they exist in normal body fluids
Dehydration: loss of water along with increased serum sodium level
May occur in combination with other imbalances
Causes: fluid loss from vomiting, diarrhea, GI suctioning, sweating, decreased intake, inability to
gain access to fluid
Risk factors: diabetes insipidus, adrenal insufficiency, osmotic diuresis, hemorrhage, coma,
third-space shifts
If you have hypovolemia your sodium is increased due to increased concentration as fluid leaves
BMP is done to check out the electrolytes
Start IV fluids if they have V/ diarrhea, meds to stop them from vomiting and having diarrhea
Manifestations: rapid weight loss, decreased skin turgor, oliguria, concentrated urine, postural
hypotension, rapid weak pulse, increased temperature, cool clammy skin due to vasoconstriction,
lassitude (lack of energy), thirst, nausea, muscle weakness, cramps
Laboratory data: elevated BUN in relation to serum creatinine, increased hematocrit
Serum electrolyte changes may occur
Medical management: provide fluids to meet body needs
Oral fluids
IV solutions
Best way to check fluid levels is daily weights, urine output, skin turgor, BMP
Normal hemoglobin is 10-12 ish and that can increase if you are hypovolemic because of
increased concentration
Correct Answers
Fluid and electrolyte balance - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Necessary for life
Homeostasis
Nursing role:
Prevention
Treat fluid/electrolyte disturbances
We need a good fluid balance in our lives and a good balance of electrolytes
If you have too much fluid you look: swelling, edema, crackles, plural effusion
If you have not enough fluid: decreased skin turgor, dry lips, decreased urine output, low BP
Fluid in the body - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Approximately 60% of typical adult is fluid
Varies with age, body size, gender
Intracellular fluid: Fluid in the cell
Extracellular fluid
Intravascular
Interstitial
Transcellular
"Third spacing": loss of ECF into space that does not contribute to equilibrium. Lots of edema
but their vitals may not add up with that. May have weeping edema. We can sometimes give a
fluid that draws that fluid back into the vascular space to help this.
,Electrolytes in the body - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Active chemicals that carry positive
(cations), negative (anions) electrical charges
Major cations: sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, hydrogen ions
Major anions: chloride, bicarbonate, phosphate, sulfate, proteinate ions
Electrolyte concentrations differ in fluid compartments
Routes of Gains of Fluid and Electrolyte - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Dietary intake of
fluid, food or enteral feeding
Parenteral fluids
Fluid retention
Routes of Loss of Fluid and Electrolytes - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Medications may
cause this
Kidney: urine output
Skin loss: sensible, insensible losses
Lungs
GI tract
Other
Fluid and Electrolyte balance Across the Lifespan - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Reduced
homeostatic mechanisms: cardiac, renal, respiratory function
Decreased body fluid percentage
Medication use
Presence of concomitant conditions
Older adults tend to be dry, have poor skin turgor, their oral mucosa is usually dry, they do not
have the best fluid balance because it is more difficult to maintain
,Infant/Toddlers:
Dehydrate easily...DO NOT REMOVE FLUID QUICKLY
Ensure adequate intake of fluids/electrolytes
Causes:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Geriatric:
Dehydrate easily
Ensure adequate intake of fluids/electrolytes
Causes:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Mental disorders
Infant/Toddlers:
Removing fluid quickly causes pt to decompensate...pt will have tachypnea in excess of >60
breaths/min
Geriatric:
Daily weights
Skin turgor
Slowing of blood flow
Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Fluid volume deficit:
hypovolemia
What are some signs/symptoms of HYPOvolemia?
Decreased BP, increased HR
, Fluid volume excess: hypervolemia
What are some signs/symptoms of HYPERvolemia?
Edema, high BP, fast HR, crackles in the lungs
Fluid Volume Deficit - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Loss of extracellular fluid exceeds
intake ratio of water
Electrolytes lost in same proportion as they exist in normal body fluids
Dehydration: loss of water along with increased serum sodium level
May occur in combination with other imbalances
Causes: fluid loss from vomiting, diarrhea, GI suctioning, sweating, decreased intake, inability to
gain access to fluid
Risk factors: diabetes insipidus, adrenal insufficiency, osmotic diuresis, hemorrhage, coma,
third-space shifts
If you have hypovolemia your sodium is increased due to increased concentration as fluid leaves
BMP is done to check out the electrolytes
Start IV fluids if they have V/ diarrhea, meds to stop them from vomiting and having diarrhea
Manifestations: rapid weight loss, decreased skin turgor, oliguria, concentrated urine, postural
hypotension, rapid weak pulse, increased temperature, cool clammy skin due to vasoconstriction,
lassitude (lack of energy), thirst, nausea, muscle weakness, cramps
Laboratory data: elevated BUN in relation to serum creatinine, increased hematocrit
Serum electrolyte changes may occur
Medical management: provide fluids to meet body needs
Oral fluids
IV solutions
Best way to check fluid levels is daily weights, urine output, skin turgor, BMP
Normal hemoglobin is 10-12 ish and that can increase if you are hypovolemic because of
increased concentration
