Electrolyte Superheros
What is the normal range for Sodium?
135-145
What diuretic can lead to hypokalemia?
furosemide
Complete this statement: Where sodium goes_____follows.
water
You are caring for a patient diagnosed with hyponatremia (sodium <135) What would you expect to find when you assess the GI system?
Hyperactive bowel sounds and frequent stools
If your patient with hyponatremia has muscle weakness, what body system would you assess first?
Respiratory, for respiratory effectiveness/status.
Nutritional therapy for a patient with hypernatremia would focus on what two things?
Adequate water intake, and decreased sodium intake with kidney problems.
What organ is responsible for excreting 80% of the body's potassium?
Kidneys through the urine
Why are older adults at high risk for dehydration?
They have less total body water than young adults.
Name 3 foods high in potassium.
Avocados, broccoli, and bananas (meats-organs, dairy products, dried fruit, mushrooms, beans/peas, potatoes, spinach)
What EKG changes would you watch for with aserum potassium level of 5.7?
Tall, spiked T waves (also prolonged PR interval,flat or absent T waves , with wide QRS complex)
What patient group is at risk for chronic calcium loss?
post menopausal women
What neuromuscular assessment is indicative of hypocalciemia with a positive result?
positive Troussea's and Chvosteks's sign.
What neuromuscular assessment findings are indicative of hypercalcemia?
Decreased deep tendon reflexes
When caring for a patient with hypercalcemia, the nurse knows that cardiovascular changes are the most serious and life threatening. What does the nurse need to monitor regularly?
heart rate, blood pressure, any indication of poor perfusion
Where is magnesium most commonly stored in the body?
Bones and cartilage
What are two major causes of hypomagnesemia?
Inadequate intake and loop diuretics. Malnutrition, starvation-anorexia, diarrhea, crohn's disease, etc.
If a patient loses 2.2 lbs or 1 kg, how much body fluid loss does that equal?
1L or 1000mL
What are common cardiovascular changes in fluid volume overload/excess? (name at least 2)
Bounding pulses, increased blood pressure, distended neck veins (JVD), weight gain.
When administering magnesium IV what assessment should you do hourly?
Assess deep tendon reflexes
When administering potassium via IV for severe hypokalemia, what are two things that the nurse must remember?
Infiltration can cause tissue to become necrotic, potassium must be diluted, pharmacy can only mix potassium in a bag of fluids, can give no more than 20meq over 1 hour, never give IM, SC, or IVP.
What electrolytes are found in lactated ringers solution?
sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride
Name two solutions that can be used to correct fluid volume deficit?
0.9% normal saline, lactated ringers solution
When treating hypercalcemia, what IV fluids and IV medication would you expect to be on your order sheet?
0.9% normal saline and furosemide
When caring for a patient with fluid volume overload, what are we assessing every 2 hours?
pulmonary edema (bounding pulses, JVD, crackles in lungs,pitting edema, reduced urine output, pink frothy sputum)
What lab values may be decreased in hypervolemia? (3)
hemoglobin, hematocrit, and proteins