Exam 1: Electrolyte Imbalance Questions with
Detailed Verified Answers for Accuracy
Your patient has been experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, also
has kidney disease. You know with this electrolyte imbalance
the patient could become:
Anorexic, V/N
Abdominal cramps, Muscle Weakness
Headache, lethargy, Confusion,
Intracranial edema/swelling
Seizures, Coma
Respiratory Distress
Affects: CNS, GI, and MSK
✓✓ Hyponatremia
What electrolyte imbalance would you treat with the acronym:
PMS
and also..
Administer 0.9% NaCl, and if severe, 3% NaCl
, ACCURACY IS GUARANTEED
✓✓ Hyponatremia
PMS:
Processed Foods
Mooooo (Dairy)
Salty Foods
Normal range for Sodium:
✓✓ 135-145 mEq/L
A patient came in and had been vomiting for the past 3 days.
They appeared extremely confused and complained of a
headache, muscle weakness, N/V. They had abdominal cramps.
The other nurse on the unit said she had never seen a patient so
lethargic. It got so bad the patient began experiencing seizures.
What electrolyte imbalance is this?
✓✓ Hyponatremia
Not enough salt. Cells become engorged with water, putting
pressure on the body inducing N/V, headaches from cerebral
swelling, respiratory distress from pressure against part of
brain that regulates breathing, and seizures because of the
pressure in brain. Sodium regulates muscles, so no sodium will
cause muscle weakness.
GI, MSK, CNS