Fluid and Electrolyte Balance Flashcards
7 cards from real NACE 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 is diagnosed with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). Which primary intervention should the nurse implement?
Answer: Restrict fluid intake per physician orders
SIADH causes excess water retention from inappropriate ADH release, leading to dilutional hyponatremia; fluid restriction is the primary intervention to reduce water excess and raise serum sodium.
A patient with diabetes insipidus has a urine specific gravity of 1.001 and urinary output of 8 L/day. Which medication does the nurse anticipate administering?
Answer: Desmopressin (DDAVP)
Diabetes insipidus results from ADH deficiency or insensitivity, producing large volumes of very dilute urine; desmopressin (synthetic ADH) is administered to reduce excessive water loss.
A patient's serum calcium is 12.5 mg/dL. Which priority intervention should the nurse implement for hypercalcemia?
Answer: Encourage oral fluid intake and ambulation
Increasing fluid intake promotes renal calcium excretion, and weight-bearing ambulation reduces bone resorption, making these the first-line interventions for mild-to-moderate hypercalcemia.
Which patient is most at risk for developing hypokalemia?
Answer: A patient taking hydrochlorothiazide for hypertension
Thiazide diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide promote renal potassium wasting through enhanced sodium-potassium exchange in the distal tubule, significantly increasing hypokalemia risk.
A nurse is caring for a patient with hypernatremia (serum Na+ 158 mEq/L). Which IV fluid would the nurse anticipate administering to correct this imbalance?
Answer: 0.45% sodium chloride (half-normal saline)
0.45% sodium chloride (hypotonic saline) provides free water to dilute the elevated serum sodium and restore normal plasma osmolality, correcting hypernatremia gradually.
A nurse reviews morning labs: Na+ 140 mEq/L, K+ 3.2 mEq/L, Cl- 98 mEq/L, HCO3- 28 mEq/L. Which imbalance does the nurse identify?
Answer: Hypokalemia
The normal serum potassium range is 3.5–5.0 mEq/L; a potassium level of 3.2 mEq/L indicates hypokalemia, which can cause dysrhythmias, muscle weakness, and constipation.
A patient is prescribed 1,000 mL of 0.9% NaCl to infuse over 8 hours. The IV tubing has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is the correct drip rate in gtt/min?
Answer: 31 gtt/min
Using the formula (volume × drop factor) ÷ time in minutes: (1000 mL × 15 gtt/mL) ÷ (8 hr × 60 min) = 15,000 ÷ 480 = 31.25, rounded to 31 gtt/min.