NR 324 Adult Health 1| Ques ons and answers | RATED
A+ | 2026| NEW
What age group has the highest percentage of water content?
Preterm / Neonates
Two fluid compartments in the body
Intracellular space (inside cells) located in the ICF
Extracellular space (outside cells) located in the ECF
ICF makes up what percent of total body weight?
40%
What are the two main compartments containing ECF? What other compartments are there?
Inters al fluid (fluid in the spaces between cells)
Intravascular fluid (plasma)
Other compartments include lymph and transcellular fluids
Transcellular fluid includes
Cerebrospinal fluid, fluid in the gastrointes)nal tract, and joint spaces as well as pleural,
peritoneal, intraocular, and pericardial fluid.
1L of water = _____ lb.
2.2 lb (1kg)
The concentra)ons of electrolytes in body fluids is expressed in _________
milliequivalents (mEq) per Liter
What are the main Ions found in the ECF and ICF
ECF ca on- sodium, with small amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium
ECF anion- chloride, with small amounts of bicarbonate, sulfate, and phosphate anions.
ICF ca on- potassium, with small amounts of magnesium and sodium
ICF anion- phosphate, with some protein and a small amount of bicarbonate.
,Hypovolemia (ECF volume deficit)
abnormal loss of normal body fluids, (D/V, hemorrhage, polyuria) inadequate intake, or plasma-
to-inters))al fluid shi9
Fluid volume deficit
Assessment- Causes-Treatment-Client educa on
Assessment- Restlessness, drowsiness, lethargy, confusion
• Thirst, dry mucous membranes
• Cold clammy skin
• Decreased skin turgor, ↓ capillary refill
• Postural hypotension, ↑ pulse, ↓ CVP
• ↓ Urine output, concentrated urine
• ↑ Respiratory rate
• Weakness, dizziness
• Weight loss
• Seizures, coma
Causes- • ↑ Insensible water loss or perspira)on (high fever, heatstroke)
• Diabetes insipidus
• Osmo)c diuresis
• Hemorrhage
• GI losses: vomi)ng, NG suc)on, diarrhea, fistula drainage
• Overuse of diure)cs
• Inadequate fluid intake
• Third-space fluid shi9s: burns, pancrea))s
Treatment- replace water and electrolytes with balanced IV solu)ons
Client educa on- Good skin care, if orthosta)c hypotension is present, teach to change
posi)ons slowly, remind pa)ent to drink
Hypervolemia (ECF volume excess)
,Excessive intake of fluids, abnormal reten)on of fluids (HF or renal failure), or inters))al-to-
plasma fluid shi9
Fluid volume excess
Assessment- Causes-Treatment-Client educa on
Assessment- • Headache, confusion, lethargy
• Peripheral edema
• Jugular venous disten)on
• S3 heart sound
• Bounding pulse, ↑ BP, ↑ CVP
• Polyuria (with normal renal func)on)
• Dyspnea, crackles, pulmonary edema
• Muscle spasms
• Weight gain
• Seizures, coma
Causes- • Excessive isotonic or hypotonic IV fluids
• Heart failure
• Renal failure
• Primary polydipsia
• SIADH
• Cushing syndrome
• Long-term use of cor)costeroids
Treatment-Remove fluid without changing electrolyte composi)on or osmolality of ECF
Client educa on- elevate edematous extremi)es
Nutri)on related to potassium
Diet is the source
-Fruit, dried fruits and vegetables
-Many salt subs)tutes contain substan)al K+
, Nutri)on related to sodium
-Daily intake far exceeds bodys daily requirments
-Glucose promotes sodium and water absorp)on
Hypertonic solu)ons
ini)ally raises the osmolality of ECF and expands it
-higher osmo)c pressure draws water out of the cells into the ECF
-Useful in treatment of hyponatremia and trauma pa)ents with head injuries
Isotonic solu)ons
has a similar concentra)on of water and electrolytes to plasma, with an osmolality of 250 to
375 mOsm/L
-administering an isotonic solu)on expands only ECF and the fluid does not move into cells
-the ideal fluid replacement for pa)ents with ECF volume deficits
Hypotonic solu)ons
solu)on has more water than electrolytes, with an osmolality of less than 250 mOsm/kg.
-Infusing a hypotonic solu)on dilutes ECf
-good for trea)ng pa)ents with hypernatremia
As a nurse it is important to remember what administra)on guidelines when administering IV
KCL?
• IV KCl must always be diluted and never given in concentrated amounts.
• Never give KCl via IV push or as a bolus.
• Invert IV bags containing KCl several )mes to ensure even distribu)on in the bag.
• Do not add KCl to a hanging IV bag to prevent giving a bolus dose.
Hypernatremia
Occurs when either too much water is lost or not enough water intake, or too much salt is taken
in
What S/S should the nurse look for when a pa)ent is experiencing hypernatremia with
decreased, normal and increased ECF volume?
Hypernatremia with decreased ECF volume: • Restlessness, agita)on, lethargy, seizures, coma
• Intense thirst, dry swollen tongue, s)cky mucous membranes
• Postural hypotension, ↓ CVP, weight loss, ↑ pulse
A+ | 2026| NEW
What age group has the highest percentage of water content?
Preterm / Neonates
Two fluid compartments in the body
Intracellular space (inside cells) located in the ICF
Extracellular space (outside cells) located in the ECF
ICF makes up what percent of total body weight?
40%
What are the two main compartments containing ECF? What other compartments are there?
Inters al fluid (fluid in the spaces between cells)
Intravascular fluid (plasma)
Other compartments include lymph and transcellular fluids
Transcellular fluid includes
Cerebrospinal fluid, fluid in the gastrointes)nal tract, and joint spaces as well as pleural,
peritoneal, intraocular, and pericardial fluid.
1L of water = _____ lb.
2.2 lb (1kg)
The concentra)ons of electrolytes in body fluids is expressed in _________
milliequivalents (mEq) per Liter
What are the main Ions found in the ECF and ICF
ECF ca on- sodium, with small amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium
ECF anion- chloride, with small amounts of bicarbonate, sulfate, and phosphate anions.
ICF ca on- potassium, with small amounts of magnesium and sodium
ICF anion- phosphate, with some protein and a small amount of bicarbonate.
,Hypovolemia (ECF volume deficit)
abnormal loss of normal body fluids, (D/V, hemorrhage, polyuria) inadequate intake, or plasma-
to-inters))al fluid shi9
Fluid volume deficit
Assessment- Causes-Treatment-Client educa on
Assessment- Restlessness, drowsiness, lethargy, confusion
• Thirst, dry mucous membranes
• Cold clammy skin
• Decreased skin turgor, ↓ capillary refill
• Postural hypotension, ↑ pulse, ↓ CVP
• ↓ Urine output, concentrated urine
• ↑ Respiratory rate
• Weakness, dizziness
• Weight loss
• Seizures, coma
Causes- • ↑ Insensible water loss or perspira)on (high fever, heatstroke)
• Diabetes insipidus
• Osmo)c diuresis
• Hemorrhage
• GI losses: vomi)ng, NG suc)on, diarrhea, fistula drainage
• Overuse of diure)cs
• Inadequate fluid intake
• Third-space fluid shi9s: burns, pancrea))s
Treatment- replace water and electrolytes with balanced IV solu)ons
Client educa on- Good skin care, if orthosta)c hypotension is present, teach to change
posi)ons slowly, remind pa)ent to drink
Hypervolemia (ECF volume excess)
,Excessive intake of fluids, abnormal reten)on of fluids (HF or renal failure), or inters))al-to-
plasma fluid shi9
Fluid volume excess
Assessment- Causes-Treatment-Client educa on
Assessment- • Headache, confusion, lethargy
• Peripheral edema
• Jugular venous disten)on
• S3 heart sound
• Bounding pulse, ↑ BP, ↑ CVP
• Polyuria (with normal renal func)on)
• Dyspnea, crackles, pulmonary edema
• Muscle spasms
• Weight gain
• Seizures, coma
Causes- • Excessive isotonic or hypotonic IV fluids
• Heart failure
• Renal failure
• Primary polydipsia
• SIADH
• Cushing syndrome
• Long-term use of cor)costeroids
Treatment-Remove fluid without changing electrolyte composi)on or osmolality of ECF
Client educa on- elevate edematous extremi)es
Nutri)on related to potassium
Diet is the source
-Fruit, dried fruits and vegetables
-Many salt subs)tutes contain substan)al K+
, Nutri)on related to sodium
-Daily intake far exceeds bodys daily requirments
-Glucose promotes sodium and water absorp)on
Hypertonic solu)ons
ini)ally raises the osmolality of ECF and expands it
-higher osmo)c pressure draws water out of the cells into the ECF
-Useful in treatment of hyponatremia and trauma pa)ents with head injuries
Isotonic solu)ons
has a similar concentra)on of water and electrolytes to plasma, with an osmolality of 250 to
375 mOsm/L
-administering an isotonic solu)on expands only ECF and the fluid does not move into cells
-the ideal fluid replacement for pa)ents with ECF volume deficits
Hypotonic solu)ons
solu)on has more water than electrolytes, with an osmolality of less than 250 mOsm/kg.
-Infusing a hypotonic solu)on dilutes ECf
-good for trea)ng pa)ents with hypernatremia
As a nurse it is important to remember what administra)on guidelines when administering IV
KCL?
• IV KCl must always be diluted and never given in concentrated amounts.
• Never give KCl via IV push or as a bolus.
• Invert IV bags containing KCl several )mes to ensure even distribu)on in the bag.
• Do not add KCl to a hanging IV bag to prevent giving a bolus dose.
Hypernatremia
Occurs when either too much water is lost or not enough water intake, or too much salt is taken
in
What S/S should the nurse look for when a pa)ent is experiencing hypernatremia with
decreased, normal and increased ECF volume?
Hypernatremia with decreased ECF volume: • Restlessness, agita)on, lethargy, seizures, coma
• Intense thirst, dry swollen tongue, s)cky mucous membranes
• Postural hypotension, ↓ CVP, weight loss, ↑ pulse
