CHAPTER 6: NURSING CARE OF
PATIENTS WITH FLUID,
ELECTROLYTE, AND ACID–BASE
IMBALANCES EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
What are the two main body fluid compartments? - ANS Intracellular fluid (ICF) and
Extracellular fluid (ECF)
What are the components of extracellular fluid (ECF)? - ANS Interstitial fluid, Intravascular
fluid, Transcellular fluid
Which fluid compartment contains the largest amount of body fluid? - ANS Intracellular fluid
(ICF)
What hormone is primarily responsible for fluid balance? - ANS Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
What is osmosis? - ANS The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an
area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
Define isotonic solution. - ANS A solution with the same osmolarity as blood.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What is hypovolemia? - ANS A condition of decreased blood volume.
List two signs of dehydration. - ANS Thirst and dry skin.
What is a common intervention for deficient fluid volume? - ANS Increase fluid intake.
What are signs of fluid overload? - ANS Bounding pulse, elevated blood pressure, and edema.
What is hyponatremia? - ANS A sodium level less than 135 mEq/L.
What are the signs of hypernatremia? - ANS Thirst, mental status changes, and seizures.
What is hypokalemia? - ANS A potassium level less than 3.5 mEq/L.
List two signs of hyperkalemia. - ANS Muscle twitching and cardiac arrhythmias.
What is hypocalcemia? - ANS A calcium level less than 9 mg/dL.
What are the signs of hypercalcemia? - ANS Increased heart rate and skeletal muscle
weakness.
What is the normal pH range for human blood? - ANS 7.35-7.45
What does ROME stand for in relation to arterial blood gases? - ANS Respiratory Opposite,
Metabolic Equal.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What are cations? - ANS Positively charged ions.
What are anions? - ANS Negatively charged ions.
What is the role of kidneys in acid-base balance? - ANS They help regulate the pH by
excreting or retaining hydrogen ions and bicarbonate.
What is the primary intervention for hyperkalemia? - ANS Limit dietary potassium and
administer medications as ordered.
What are common food sources of sodium? - ANS Pizza, canned vegetables, and salty snacks.
What is the significance of Trousseau and Chvostek signs? - ANS They are indicators of
hypocalcemia.
What are the signs of metabolic acidosis? - ANS Decreased pH and bicarbonate levels.
What are the purposes of fluids and electrolytes in the body? - ANS They help maintain
homeostasis, support cellular function, and facilitate physiological processes.
What are common signs and symptoms of dehydration? - ANS Thirst, rapid weak pulse, low
blood pressure, dry skin and mucous membranes, skin tenting, decreased urine output,
increased temperature.
What patients are at the highest risk for dehydration? - ANS Elderly patients, those with
chronic illnesses, and individuals with inadequate fluid intake.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
PATIENTS WITH FLUID,
ELECTROLYTE, AND ACID–BASE
IMBALANCES EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
What are the two main body fluid compartments? - ANS Intracellular fluid (ICF) and
Extracellular fluid (ECF)
What are the components of extracellular fluid (ECF)? - ANS Interstitial fluid, Intravascular
fluid, Transcellular fluid
Which fluid compartment contains the largest amount of body fluid? - ANS Intracellular fluid
(ICF)
What hormone is primarily responsible for fluid balance? - ANS Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
What is osmosis? - ANS The movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an
area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.
Define isotonic solution. - ANS A solution with the same osmolarity as blood.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,What is hypovolemia? - ANS A condition of decreased blood volume.
List two signs of dehydration. - ANS Thirst and dry skin.
What is a common intervention for deficient fluid volume? - ANS Increase fluid intake.
What are signs of fluid overload? - ANS Bounding pulse, elevated blood pressure, and edema.
What is hyponatremia? - ANS A sodium level less than 135 mEq/L.
What are the signs of hypernatremia? - ANS Thirst, mental status changes, and seizures.
What is hypokalemia? - ANS A potassium level less than 3.5 mEq/L.
List two signs of hyperkalemia. - ANS Muscle twitching and cardiac arrhythmias.
What is hypocalcemia? - ANS A calcium level less than 9 mg/dL.
What are the signs of hypercalcemia? - ANS Increased heart rate and skeletal muscle
weakness.
What is the normal pH range for human blood? - ANS 7.35-7.45
What does ROME stand for in relation to arterial blood gases? - ANS Respiratory Opposite,
Metabolic Equal.
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, What are cations? - ANS Positively charged ions.
What are anions? - ANS Negatively charged ions.
What is the role of kidneys in acid-base balance? - ANS They help regulate the pH by
excreting or retaining hydrogen ions and bicarbonate.
What is the primary intervention for hyperkalemia? - ANS Limit dietary potassium and
administer medications as ordered.
What are common food sources of sodium? - ANS Pizza, canned vegetables, and salty snacks.
What is the significance of Trousseau and Chvostek signs? - ANS They are indicators of
hypocalcemia.
What are the signs of metabolic acidosis? - ANS Decreased pH and bicarbonate levels.
What are the purposes of fluids and electrolytes in the body? - ANS They help maintain
homeostasis, support cellular function, and facilitate physiological processes.
What are common signs and symptoms of dehydration? - ANS Thirst, rapid weak pulse, low
blood pressure, dry skin and mucous membranes, skin tenting, decreased urine output,
increased temperature.
What patients are at the highest risk for dehydration? - ANS Elderly patients, those with
chronic illnesses, and individuals with inadequate fluid intake.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
