How to assess patients weight?
Do not have the patient eat or drink before weighing
Who is your top two risk for developing dehydration?
Age and patient who is cognitively impaired
What would the labs look like for someone who is
hypovolemic ? what should we be monitoring for?
Creatinine and BUN.
What would the creatinine and BUN look like when the patient
is hypovolemic?
They are both going to be elevated
what is the treatment for dehydration
IV fluids.. 0.45%NaCL. 0.9% NaCl, hypotonic, isotonic or
lactated ringers
BUN normal lab value
10-20 mg/dL
Creatinine normal lab value
0.8-1.4
Hyponatremia lab value
<135 mEq/L
, what is the biggest risk for developing hyponatremia of a
hospital patient?
NPO... assess them for dehydration.
what is the treatment for hypernatremia?
Fluid restriction, low sodium diet, avoid chips and salsa
what causes hypocalcemia ?
Osteoporosis, hypoparathyroidism due to partial or complete
removing of the parathyroid.
What are the signs and symptoms of hypocalcemia?
tetany, positive chvostek/ trousseau sign, twitching, tremors,
muscle spasms, anxiety
Why would hypocalcemia cause twitching or more activity
going on with the muscles?
calcium cover the nerve to protect it, so it doesnt get all excited.
without the calcium they are excited
Hyperkalemia, what can it lead to?
cardiac arthymias and cardiac arrest
Why does hyperkalemia need to be treated immediately ?
to reduce that extracellular potassium
If the potassium level is extremely high like 7.5, the patient is
having PVC and the heart is erratic. What is the first treatment?
Insulin with dextrose
what EKG changes do you see with high potassium?