DEPARTMENT OF NURSING SCIENCE – FINAL WRITTEN EXAMINATION
2026| UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA -LAS VEGAS
ELECTROLYTES, FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE BALANCE IN HEALTH AND
DISEASE
FINAL SPRING EXAMINATION SET| HIGHER GRADE A+
PASS GUARANTEED
Course Code: _______________________
Date: ______________________________
Time Allowed: ______________________
1. Approximately two thirds of the body's total water volume exist in the _____ fluid.
a. Intracellular
b. Interstitial
c. Intravascular
d. Transcellular
A
(Intracellular fluid accounts for approximately two thirds of the fluids in the body—about 42%
of total body weight. Interstitial fluid, intravascular fluid, and transcellular fluid constitute extra-
cellular fluid, which is the fluid outside a cell.)
2. The process of passively moving water from an area of lower particle concentration to an
area of higher particle concentration is known as
a. Hydrolysis.
,b. Osmosis.
c. Filtration.
d. Active transport.
B
(The process of moving water from an area of low particle concentration to an area of higher
par-ticle concentration is known as osmosis. Hydrolysis is not a term related to fluid and
electrolyte balance. Filtration is mediated by fluid pressure from an area of higher pressure to
an area of lower pressure. Active transport requires metabolic activity and is not passive.)
3. The nurse knows that edema in a patient who has venous congestion from right heart failure
is facilitated by an imbalance with regard to _____ pressure.
a. Hydrostatic
b. Osmotic
c. Oncotic
d. Concentration
A
(Venous congestion increases capillary hydrostatic pressure. Increased hydrostatic pressure
causes edema by causing increased movement of fluid into the interstitial area. Osmotic and
oncotic pressures involve the concentrations of solutes and can contribute to edema in other
situations. Concentration pressure is not a nursing term.)
4. The nurse understands that administering a hypertonic solution to a patient will shift wa-ter
from the _____ to the _____ space.
a. Intracellular; extracellular
b. Extracellular; intracellular
c. Intravascular; intracellular
, d. Intravascular; interstitial
A
(A hypertonic solution has a concentration greater than normal body fluids, so water will shift
out of cells because of the osmotic pull of the extra particles. Movement of water into cells
occurs when hypotonic fluids are administered. Distribution of fluid between intravascular and
intersti-tial spaces occurs by filtration, the net sum of hydrostatic and osmotic pressures.)
5. Which patient is most at risk for sensible water loss?
a. A 7-year-old child with asthma
b. A 24-year-old adult with constipation
c. A 56-year-old patient with gastroenteritis
d. An 80-year-old patient with pneumonia
D
(Sensible water loss consists of fluids lost from the skin through visible perspiration, such as
with a resolving fever related to pneumonia. Asthma would be insensible water loss through
respira-tion. Gastroenteritis causes diarrhea with its large volume loss. Constipation does not
affect fluid loss.)
6. The nurse knows that the most abundant cation in the blood is
a. Sodium.
b. Potassium.
c. Chloride.
d. Magnesium.
A
2026| UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA -LAS VEGAS
ELECTROLYTES, FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE BALANCE IN HEALTH AND
DISEASE
FINAL SPRING EXAMINATION SET| HIGHER GRADE A+
PASS GUARANTEED
Course Code: _______________________
Date: ______________________________
Time Allowed: ______________________
1. Approximately two thirds of the body's total water volume exist in the _____ fluid.
a. Intracellular
b. Interstitial
c. Intravascular
d. Transcellular
A
(Intracellular fluid accounts for approximately two thirds of the fluids in the body—about 42%
of total body weight. Interstitial fluid, intravascular fluid, and transcellular fluid constitute extra-
cellular fluid, which is the fluid outside a cell.)
2. The process of passively moving water from an area of lower particle concentration to an
area of higher particle concentration is known as
a. Hydrolysis.
,b. Osmosis.
c. Filtration.
d. Active transport.
B
(The process of moving water from an area of low particle concentration to an area of higher
par-ticle concentration is known as osmosis. Hydrolysis is not a term related to fluid and
electrolyte balance. Filtration is mediated by fluid pressure from an area of higher pressure to
an area of lower pressure. Active transport requires metabolic activity and is not passive.)
3. The nurse knows that edema in a patient who has venous congestion from right heart failure
is facilitated by an imbalance with regard to _____ pressure.
a. Hydrostatic
b. Osmotic
c. Oncotic
d. Concentration
A
(Venous congestion increases capillary hydrostatic pressure. Increased hydrostatic pressure
causes edema by causing increased movement of fluid into the interstitial area. Osmotic and
oncotic pressures involve the concentrations of solutes and can contribute to edema in other
situations. Concentration pressure is not a nursing term.)
4. The nurse understands that administering a hypertonic solution to a patient will shift wa-ter
from the _____ to the _____ space.
a. Intracellular; extracellular
b. Extracellular; intracellular
c. Intravascular; intracellular
, d. Intravascular; interstitial
A
(A hypertonic solution has a concentration greater than normal body fluids, so water will shift
out of cells because of the osmotic pull of the extra particles. Movement of water into cells
occurs when hypotonic fluids are administered. Distribution of fluid between intravascular and
intersti-tial spaces occurs by filtration, the net sum of hydrostatic and osmotic pressures.)
5. Which patient is most at risk for sensible water loss?
a. A 7-year-old child with asthma
b. A 24-year-old adult with constipation
c. A 56-year-old patient with gastroenteritis
d. An 80-year-old patient with pneumonia
D
(Sensible water loss consists of fluids lost from the skin through visible perspiration, such as
with a resolving fever related to pneumonia. Asthma would be insensible water loss through
respira-tion. Gastroenteritis causes diarrhea with its large volume loss. Constipation does not
affect fluid loss.)
6. The nurse knows that the most abundant cation in the blood is
a. Sodium.
b. Potassium.
c. Chloride.
d. Magnesium.
A
