NAME: XENA A.

MOMBAY YEAR & SECTION: BSN3A-NEUMAN

MODULE 2: LESSON 1

Below are key terms in studying fluids and electrolytes. Provide your understanding of the
different terms given below. (30 points)

1. Edema- also known as swelling, caused by fluid trapped in the tissues of the body

2. Hypervolemia- excessive fluid retention inside the body

3. Isotonic- there is a balance between the concentration of solutes and solvents

4. Osmolality- The measurement of concentration; the number of moles of particles

(solute) per kilogram of water (solvent)

5. Interstitial- Pertaining to being between things, especially between things that are
normally closely spaced

6. Intracellular- intra means inside, cellular means cell so this means inside the cell

7. Intravascular- intra means inside, vascular means the network of veins so this means
inside the veins

8. Hypotonic- lower concentration of solutes

9. Turgor- pressure exerted by a fluid in a cell that presses the cell membrane against the
cell wall.

10. Antidiuretic Hormone- it is responsible for helping the kidney in managing the amount
of water in your body
Think Critically!

 Can you give an example of active transport taking place within the body? (10 points)
 An example of active transport taking place within the body is when calcium ions are
moving from cardiac muscle cells and playing a crucial role in coupling excitation and
contraction within the cells of the cardiac muscle.

 Why is it important to the body's function to administer fluid and electrolytes during a
fever? (10 points)
 During a fever, there is an increased metabolic rate causing extra fluid loss. It is estimated
that for every degree Celsius on a fever scale, there is an insensible 10% water loss that may
happen. With this, we can conclude that there is a fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Fluid and
electrolyte imbalance is one of the body’s coping needs in order to achieve homeostasis.
Meaning, if one experiences a fever, there is a loss in fluid happening within his or her body,
and the human body will need a replacement for that loss in order to maintain its normal
functioning. Now that is the reason why we should administer fluid and electrolytes during
a fever.

 If a patient has food poisoning and suffers from vomiting and diarrhea, what type of fluid
and electrolyte imbalance may the patient develop? (5 points)
 The patient may suffer from deficient fluid volume because vomiting and diarrhea leads to
an excessive fluid loss from our body.

 How would you assess a patient with diarrhea for signs of dehydration? (5 points)
 Assess for skin turgor, thirstiness, weakness, sunken or soft eyeballs, dry scaly skin, cracked
lips and tongue, dry mucous membranes, thick saliva, flat neck veins when patient is lying
down, complaints of dizziness and has postural hypotension.
 Monitor urine production and color. Dehydrated patients often have decreased urine
production and a dark concentrated urine.
 Check vital signs. Dehydrated patients often have rapid, weak and thready pulse, an
elevated temperature usually on or above 38-degree Celsius, increased hematocrit, and a
high urine specific gravity with low volume.
Test I. Differentiate the terms given in each item. (10 points/item).

1. Active Transport and Passive Transport

 The best way to differentiate active and passive transport is that active transport forces
molecules against the concentration gradient with help of cellular (ATP)
energy whereas passive transport let the molecules to pass across the membrane
through a concentration channel, requiring no cellular energy.
2. Localized Edema and Dependent Edema
 Key terms to easily differentiate these two is that localized edema is nonpitting while
dependent edema often includes pitting. Localized edema usually happens when there
is inflammation such as trauma, allergies, burns, obstruction of lymph flow, and liver
failure and it usually does not come and go and is characterized by tight, shiny skin that
is stretched over a hard and red area while dependent edema is an effect of gravity and
therefore can be somewhat relieved by elevating the affected body part and by
repositioning the patient frequently.
3. Deficient Fluid Volume and Excessive Fluid Volume
 Excessive fluid volume happens when people receive more water than they excrete
which often occurs to patients who are ill specifically with an impaired elimination,
while deficient fluid volume can happen if there is an excessive fluid loss within the
body which typically happens to patients who suffer from prolonged vomiting, diarrhea,
hemorrhage, diaphoresis (sweating), excessive wound drainage, or diuretic therapy.

Test II. Provide what is ask in each item. (2 points/item)

1. General Causes of Edema

a) an increase in capillary hydrostatic pressure
b) a loss of plasma proteins
c) obstruction of lymphatic circulation
d) an increase in capillary permeability

2. Infectious Agents of Diarrhea

a) Salmonella
b) Clostridium dif icile
c) Escherichia coli

3. Nursing Management for Nausea and Vomiting

a) Have the patient lie down and turn his head to one side
b) Use a cool, damp washcloth to wipe the patient's face and the back of the neck
c) Have the patient breathe through the mouth
NAME: XENA A. MOMBAY YEAR & SECTION: BSN3A-NEUMAN

MODULE 2: LESSON 2

Electrolytes have many functions in the body. To determine whether there is an electrolyte
imbalance, you must know the normal range for each electrolyte and its function. Supply the
table below with needed information. (20 points)

ELECTROLYTE NORMAL RANGE FUNCTION

Sodium 135 to 145 mEq/L It helps keep the water (the
amount of fluid inside and
outside the body's cells) and
electrolyte balance of the
body. 
Potassium 3.5 and 5.0 mmol/L It helps the nerves to function
and muscles to contract. 
Calcium 8.6-10.3 mg/dL It is needed for a variety of
metabolic processes and
enzyme reactions, including
for blood clotting
Magnesium 1.7 to 2.2 mg/dL It is important in
(0.85 to 1.10 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
mmol/L) and protein synthesis and in
many enzyme reactions
Phosphate 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL It is needed to build strong
healthy bones, help nerves
function, make muscles
contract. as well as, keeping
other parts of your body
healthy.
Think Critically!

Having learned the different electrolytes imbalances, provide possible signs and symptoms
of a person with the following conditions: (5 points/item)

ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

HYPOKALEMIA  Weakness.
 Fatigue.
 Muscle cramps or twitching.
 Constipation.
 Arrhythmia (abnormal heart
rhythms)
HYPERCALCEMIA  Loss of appetite.
 Nausea and vomiting.
 Constipation and abdominal (belly)
pain.
 The need to drink more fluids and
urinate more.
 Tiredness, weakness, or muscle
pain.
 Confusion, disorientation, and
difficulty thinking.
 Headaches.
 Depression.
HYPOMAGNESEMIA  Convulsions.
 Apathy.
 Muscle cramps.
 Hyperreflexia.
 Acute organic brain syndromes.
 Depression.
 Generalized weakness.
 Anorexia.
HYPERNATREMIA  Muscle weakness.
 Restlessness.
 Extreme thirst.
 Confusion.
 Lethargy.
 Irritability.
 Seizures.
 Unconsciousness.
Electrolyte Imbalances and
Nursing Interventions (40
points)
ELECTROLYTE NURSING INTERVENTIONS
IMBALANCE
Hyponatremia  Monitor patient’s vital signs
 Monitor daily fluid intake and output
 Monitor changes in patient’s weight
 Monitor dietary sodium and effects of medications such as
diuretics and lithium
 Monitor neurological status
 Assess central nervous system changes: confusion and seizures
 Encourage foods high in sodium
 Restriction of fluids and water intake
 Administer intravenous fluid and electrolytes
 Monitor serial serum electrolyte levels
Hyperkalemia  Monitor vital signs
 Monitor potassium levels
 Monitor for ECG changes
 Monitor intake and output
 Monitor muscle tone
 Assess for signs of metabolic acidosis
 Monitor arterial blood gas
 Eliminate all oral intake of potassium such as medications,
fluids, and foods that all contain potassium.
 Administer potassium-reducing agents
 Eliminate excess potassium or increase potassium excretion
with diuretics and potassium binders
Hypocalcemia  Monitor serial lab values
 Monitor patient’s airway
 Monitor ECG
 Monitor neurological status
 Establish seizure precautions if there is severe hypocalcemia
 Continuous cardiac monitoring
 Encourage increased dietary intake of calcium
 Administer medications as ordered:
 IV Calcium Gluconate
 PO Calcium Supplements
 Encourage increased dietary intake of calcium
 Restriction of phosphate
Hypermagnesemia  Monitor vital signs (blood pressure, respiratory rate, and pulse
rate)
 Monitor patient’s airway
 Monitor magnesium levels
 Monitor reflexes (patellar reflex)
 Assess for drowsiness, lethargy, and coma
 Avoid magnesium-based products like antacids and laxatives
 Restrict dietary food intake that are high in magnesium such as
whole grains, nuts, green leafy veggies, beans, broccoli, potatoes,
and squash)
 Administer normal saline and diuretics
 Increase fluid intake
 Administer IV calcium for emergency situations