Fluid and Electrolyte Balance Flashcards
7 cards from real NCLEX practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Fluid and Electrolyte Balance flashcards as text
A patient with a sodium level of 118 mEq/L develops confusion and seizures. Which IV fluid is most appropriate?
Answer: 3% NaCl (hypertonic saline)
Severe symptomatic hyponatremia with neurological symptoms requires hypertonic saline (3% NaCl) to safely correct the sodium deficit.
Positive Chvostek's and Trousseau's signs are classic clinical manifestations of which electrolyte imbalance?
Answer: Hypocalcemia
Both signs indicate increased neuromuscular excitability caused by hypocalcemia.
A patient has a serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L. Which food should the nurse instruct the patient to avoid?
Answer: Bananas
Bananas are high in potassium and must be avoided by patients with hyperkalemia to prevent further elevation.
Which assessment finding is most characteristic of fluid volume excess (hypervolemia)?
Answer: Crackles (rales) in the lungs
Fluid volume excess causes pulmonary edema, which produces crackles on lung auscultation.
A patient with chronic alcoholism is most at risk for which electrolyte imbalance?
Answer: Hypomagnesemia
Chronic alcoholism causes poor nutritional intake and increased renal excretion of magnesium, leading to hypomagnesemia.
Which assessment finding is most consistent with hypernatremia?
Answer: Intense thirst and dry mucous membranes
High serum sodium creates an osmotic gradient that draws water from cells, causing intense thirst and dry mucous membranes.
A patient receiving TPN after prolonged starvation develops severe hypophosphatemia. This is associated with which syndrome?
Answer: Refeeding syndrome
Refeeding syndrome occurs when nutrition is reintroduced after starvation, causing rapid cellular uptake of phosphate and dropping serum levels dangerously.