NUR 325 Exam 3 Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
Fluid and electrolyte balance is the process of - Answers regulating the extracellular fluid
volume, body fluid osmolality, and plasma concentrations of electrolytes.
Electrolytes Are Responsible for: - Answers Balancing the amount of water in the body.
Balancing the body's pH (acid/base) level.
Moving waste out of body cells.
Moving nutrients into body cells.
Allowing the body's muscles, heart, nerves, and brain to function properly
Where in the body are electrolytes found - Answers Found in urine, blood, muscle tissue,
cerebrospinal fluid, as well as other body fluids.
What are the 4 types of electrolytes in the body - Answers potassium, sodium, calcium, and
magnesium.
While naturally occurring in the body, electrolytes can also be found in - Answers food, drinks,
and supplements.
Optimal electrolyte Balance: - Answers Body's intake and absorption should match output
Too little electrolytes: "Hypo" - Answers Not enough to function: showing symptoms
Can be caused by fluid shift into "third spacing"
Infants are at greatest risk of electrolyte imbalances because of: - Answers Growing very fast:
High metabolic rate
Immature kidneys
More rapid respiratory rate- can breathe out all the vapor
Very old at risk of electrolyte imbalances because: - Answers Loss of Thirst sensation
Old Kidneys less responsive to ADH
Impaired ability to conserve water-lose weight faster
Why is health history difficult to diagnose electrolyte imblanaces - Answers nonspecific:
weakness, nausea
-rely on lab work to diagnose
,If a patient has vomiting/diarrhea, what is the main electrolyte can you anticipate will be low -
Answers potassium (K)
If a patient has kidney failure (cant filter/produce urine), are they more likely to become hyper or
hypo volemic - Answers Hypervolemic
-cant excrete fluid
If a patient is rapidly gaining/losing weight over the course of a few days, it is important to
check for what conditons - Answers edema
heart/kidney failure
What does a dehydrated patient look like - Answers Tenting of skin
Flushed skin
dry skin/mucous membranes
Is a dehydrated patient more likely to be hypo or hyper volemic - Answers Hypovolemic
Is a dehydrated patients' blood more concentrated or diluted - Answers concentrated
ADH function - Answers tells body to hold onto fluid-- stops peeing
Symptoms of fluid and electrolyte imbalance are_____ - Answers nonspecific:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
Organ failure (kidney, heart, liver)
Fatigue
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Muscle cramping
Edema, sudden changes in weight
Some medications, supplements
Hypovolemia definition - Answers Too little fluid
Hypervolemia definition - Answers Too much fluid
What hormone is released when the body is dehydrated - Answers ADH/Vasopressin
How does ADH/Vasopressin aid when the body id dehydrated - Answers Signals the body to
, hold on to water
Part of renin-angiotensin pathway along with aldosterone: signals the body to hold on to sodium
to retain water.
Hypovolemia symptoms - Answers Sudden weight loss
Skin tenting
Dry mucous membranes
Low BP and high HR
Lightheaded
Dizziness
Low urine output volume
In a patient with hypovolemia, is BP high or low and why - Answers Low:
less fluid/blood volume
In a patient with hypovolemia, is HR high or low and why - Answers high:
tries to compensate for low BP
Hypervolemia findings - Answers Sudden weight gain
Edema
"Wet" lung sounds, cough, shortness of breath
High blood pressure & bounding pulse
Bulging neck/face veins
With third spacing, where does fluid typically travel - Answers Into the lungs space
With hypervolemia, is BP high or low and why - Answers High:
fluid overload
What is third spacing - Answers abnormal movement of fluid from the blood into tissues or
body cavities where it cannot be used by
Examples of third spacing - Answers pulmonary edema and ascites
With hypervolemia, what vital sign symptoms should you watch out for - Answers High BP,
Fluid and electrolyte balance is the process of - Answers regulating the extracellular fluid
volume, body fluid osmolality, and plasma concentrations of electrolytes.
Electrolytes Are Responsible for: - Answers Balancing the amount of water in the body.
Balancing the body's pH (acid/base) level.
Moving waste out of body cells.
Moving nutrients into body cells.
Allowing the body's muscles, heart, nerves, and brain to function properly
Where in the body are electrolytes found - Answers Found in urine, blood, muscle tissue,
cerebrospinal fluid, as well as other body fluids.
What are the 4 types of electrolytes in the body - Answers potassium, sodium, calcium, and
magnesium.
While naturally occurring in the body, electrolytes can also be found in - Answers food, drinks,
and supplements.
Optimal electrolyte Balance: - Answers Body's intake and absorption should match output
Too little electrolytes: "Hypo" - Answers Not enough to function: showing symptoms
Can be caused by fluid shift into "third spacing"
Infants are at greatest risk of electrolyte imbalances because of: - Answers Growing very fast:
High metabolic rate
Immature kidneys
More rapid respiratory rate- can breathe out all the vapor
Very old at risk of electrolyte imbalances because: - Answers Loss of Thirst sensation
Old Kidneys less responsive to ADH
Impaired ability to conserve water-lose weight faster
Why is health history difficult to diagnose electrolyte imblanaces - Answers nonspecific:
weakness, nausea
-rely on lab work to diagnose
,If a patient has vomiting/diarrhea, what is the main electrolyte can you anticipate will be low -
Answers potassium (K)
If a patient has kidney failure (cant filter/produce urine), are they more likely to become hyper or
hypo volemic - Answers Hypervolemic
-cant excrete fluid
If a patient is rapidly gaining/losing weight over the course of a few days, it is important to
check for what conditons - Answers edema
heart/kidney failure
What does a dehydrated patient look like - Answers Tenting of skin
Flushed skin
dry skin/mucous membranes
Is a dehydrated patient more likely to be hypo or hyper volemic - Answers Hypovolemic
Is a dehydrated patients' blood more concentrated or diluted - Answers concentrated
ADH function - Answers tells body to hold onto fluid-- stops peeing
Symptoms of fluid and electrolyte imbalance are_____ - Answers nonspecific:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
Organ failure (kidney, heart, liver)
Fatigue
Dizziness
Shortness of breath
Muscle cramping
Edema, sudden changes in weight
Some medications, supplements
Hypovolemia definition - Answers Too little fluid
Hypervolemia definition - Answers Too much fluid
What hormone is released when the body is dehydrated - Answers ADH/Vasopressin
How does ADH/Vasopressin aid when the body id dehydrated - Answers Signals the body to
, hold on to water
Part of renin-angiotensin pathway along with aldosterone: signals the body to hold on to sodium
to retain water.
Hypovolemia symptoms - Answers Sudden weight loss
Skin tenting
Dry mucous membranes
Low BP and high HR
Lightheaded
Dizziness
Low urine output volume
In a patient with hypovolemia, is BP high or low and why - Answers Low:
less fluid/blood volume
In a patient with hypovolemia, is HR high or low and why - Answers high:
tries to compensate for low BP
Hypervolemia findings - Answers Sudden weight gain
Edema
"Wet" lung sounds, cough, shortness of breath
High blood pressure & bounding pulse
Bulging neck/face veins
With third spacing, where does fluid typically travel - Answers Into the lungs space
With hypervolemia, is BP high or low and why - Answers High:
fluid overload
What is third spacing - Answers abnormal movement of fluid from the blood into tissues or
body cavities where it cannot be used by
Examples of third spacing - Answers pulmonary edema and ascites
With hypervolemia, what vital sign symptoms should you watch out for - Answers High BP,
