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BrainRecally Memory Master
Medical & Nursing Studies 30 flashcards ~15 min

Fluid, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Balance

Fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance is one of the most heavily tested areas in nursing school and the NCLEX. This deck covers key electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, along with imbalances such as hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. Yo...

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Fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance is one of the most heavily tested areas in nursing school and the NCLEX. This deck covers key electrolytes like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, along with imbalances such as hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. You'll also review the fundamentals of acidosis and alkalosis, including respiratory and metabolic causes, plus IV fluid types and how the kidneys and lungs maintain pH balance. Essential for nursing students preparing for clinical practice or licensure exams.

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The body's regulation of fluid volume and composition within normal limits
About 60%
Intracellular fluid is inside cells; extracellular fluid is outside cells
Interstitial fluid and plasma
A substance that dissociates into ions and conducts electricity in solution
Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride
Abnormally low sodium levels in the blood
Abnormally high sodium levels in the blood
Abnormally low potassium levels in the blood
Abnormally high potassium levels in the blood
Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, or inadequate fluid intake
Excess fluid accumulation in body tissues
The movement of water across a membrane from low to high solute concentration
7.35 to 7.45
A condition where blood pH is abnormally low (more acidic)
A condition where blood pH is abnormally high (more alkaline)
Insufficient elimination of carbon dioxide, often from hypoventilation
Excessive elimination of carbon dioxide, often from hyperventilation
Excess acid production or loss of bicarbonate
Loss of acid or excess bicarbonate intake
The kidneys and lungs
A mechanism that resists changes in pH by neutralizing excess acid or base
The bicarbonate buffer system
Replacing fluid volume without shifting fluid between compartments
Moving fluid into cells to treat cellular dehydration
Drawing fluid out of cells into the bloodstream
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine
Edema, hypertension, and shortness of breath
Dry mucous membranes, low blood pressure, and increased heart rate
Imbalances can cause serious cardiac, neurological, and muscular complications