Electrolyte Imbalances Test Questions with Correct Answers Graded A+
groups at risk for electrolyte imbalance - Answers elderly, excessive exercise, diabetics, dehydrated
people
hypernatremia - Answers serum sodium >145 mEQ/L.
aldosterone - Answers reuptake of sodium is regulated by what hormone?
sodium - Answers electrolye needed for nerve impulse transmission and acid/base balance
fever, diarrhea, heat stroke, osmotic diuretic treatment - Answers In hypernatremia, water loss in excess
of Na loss causes ______________
hypertonic tube feedings, IV infusions - Answers In hypernatremia, Na intake in excess of water intake
cause______
s/s of hypernatremia - Answers thirst, dry flushed skin, dry mucous membranes. poor skin turgor,
confusion, restlessness agitation, decreased urine output
hypernatremia - Answers treatment of ____is to replace water gradually, low salt diet, rehydrate with IV
isotonic fulids
inside the cells - Answers most of the body's water is located
135-145 mEQ/L - Answers normal serum sodium concentration
3.5-5.0 mEQ/L - Answers normal serum potassium concentration
aldosterone - Answers which hormone exerts the most control over how much sodium is retained or
excreted by the kidneys?
anasarca - Answers massive generalized edema
rapid weight gain - Answers what is the most reliable sign of current fluid volume excess?
adult male - Answers what group (age/sex) would get the highest rate of IV infusion
hyponatremia (low sodium in ECF) - Answers serum sodium < 135 mEQ/L
diuretics + dietary restriction, vomiting, nasogastric drainage, diarrhea, sweating, or aldosterone
deficiency - Answers In hyponatremia, sodium loss is caused by _____-
tap water enemas, excessive administration of hypotonic IV solutions, massive PO intake - Answers In
hyponatremia, water gain could be caused by_
s/s hyponatremia - Answers cellular swelling causing lethargy, twitching, irritability, convulsions or
coma, abdominal cramping nausea, urine specific gravity low
, H20 intoxication - Answers normal balance of electrolytes is outside of safe limits, secondary to the
over-consumption of warer
treatment of hyponatremia - Answers restrict fluid intake, hypertonic IV infusions (3% NaCl), diuretics
potassium - Answers major cation in ICF, causes neuromuscular excitability, muscle contraction, and
assists in regulating acid-base balance
fluid excess - Answers s/s of ______is crackles in the lungs, edema, excessive urination and weight gain
cells swell - Answers When _________ the s/s are personality changes, confusion, irritability,
drowsiness, SOB. In brain swelling leads to intercranial pressure
people at risk for potassium imbalance - Answers anorexics, alcoholics, people with malabsorption
syndrome and elderly
kidneys excrete excess - Answers Food is a major source of potassium, if the diet contains more than
needed,__________. There is not much stored
potassium, sodium - Answers Sodium potassium pump works against the gradient, bringing _into the
cell and transporting _out
resting membrane potential - Answers ratio of K+ in ICF & ECF causes a ______on the cell membranes
which affects neurmuscluar and cardiac cells and also controls excitability of muscles and affects heart
contrations
hypokalemia - Answers serum potassium <3.5 mEQ/L
reasons of hypokalemia - Answers reduced potassium intake, GI losses through vomiting and NG
suction, diarrhea, ileostomy, diuterics (especially loop)
s/s hypokalemia - Answers cardiac dysrhythmias, fatigu, anorexia, nausea+vomiting, weakness in legs,
paresthesias
anorexia - Answers This condition causes death due to heart failure, fatal arrhythmias, fluid and
electrolyte imbalances
tx hypokalemia - Answers potassium replacement, oral route preferred because there is less likelihood
of dysrhthmias by can be IV- IV pump is needed at a steady rate, a central line is preferred because the
hypertonic solution is very irritating to veins, can never be as an IV blus
hyperkalemia - Answers serum potassium>5.3 mEQ/L
reasons for hyperkalemia - Answers kidney failure is the most common cause. Also K-spaing diuretics/ac
inhibitors, escess intake of KCl especially through an IV, metabolic acidosis because K shifts out of cells
and into venous system, or massive tissue injury
groups at risk for electrolyte imbalance - Answers elderly, excessive exercise, diabetics, dehydrated
people
hypernatremia - Answers serum sodium >145 mEQ/L.
aldosterone - Answers reuptake of sodium is regulated by what hormone?
sodium - Answers electrolye needed for nerve impulse transmission and acid/base balance
fever, diarrhea, heat stroke, osmotic diuretic treatment - Answers In hypernatremia, water loss in excess
of Na loss causes ______________
hypertonic tube feedings, IV infusions - Answers In hypernatremia, Na intake in excess of water intake
cause______
s/s of hypernatremia - Answers thirst, dry flushed skin, dry mucous membranes. poor skin turgor,
confusion, restlessness agitation, decreased urine output
hypernatremia - Answers treatment of ____is to replace water gradually, low salt diet, rehydrate with IV
isotonic fulids
inside the cells - Answers most of the body's water is located
135-145 mEQ/L - Answers normal serum sodium concentration
3.5-5.0 mEQ/L - Answers normal serum potassium concentration
aldosterone - Answers which hormone exerts the most control over how much sodium is retained or
excreted by the kidneys?
anasarca - Answers massive generalized edema
rapid weight gain - Answers what is the most reliable sign of current fluid volume excess?
adult male - Answers what group (age/sex) would get the highest rate of IV infusion
hyponatremia (low sodium in ECF) - Answers serum sodium < 135 mEQ/L
diuretics + dietary restriction, vomiting, nasogastric drainage, diarrhea, sweating, or aldosterone
deficiency - Answers In hyponatremia, sodium loss is caused by _____-
tap water enemas, excessive administration of hypotonic IV solutions, massive PO intake - Answers In
hyponatremia, water gain could be caused by_
s/s hyponatremia - Answers cellular swelling causing lethargy, twitching, irritability, convulsions or
coma, abdominal cramping nausea, urine specific gravity low
, H20 intoxication - Answers normal balance of electrolytes is outside of safe limits, secondary to the
over-consumption of warer
treatment of hyponatremia - Answers restrict fluid intake, hypertonic IV infusions (3% NaCl), diuretics
potassium - Answers major cation in ICF, causes neuromuscular excitability, muscle contraction, and
assists in regulating acid-base balance
fluid excess - Answers s/s of ______is crackles in the lungs, edema, excessive urination and weight gain
cells swell - Answers When _________ the s/s are personality changes, confusion, irritability,
drowsiness, SOB. In brain swelling leads to intercranial pressure
people at risk for potassium imbalance - Answers anorexics, alcoholics, people with malabsorption
syndrome and elderly
kidneys excrete excess - Answers Food is a major source of potassium, if the diet contains more than
needed,__________. There is not much stored
potassium, sodium - Answers Sodium potassium pump works against the gradient, bringing _into the
cell and transporting _out
resting membrane potential - Answers ratio of K+ in ICF & ECF causes a ______on the cell membranes
which affects neurmuscluar and cardiac cells and also controls excitability of muscles and affects heart
contrations
hypokalemia - Answers serum potassium <3.5 mEQ/L
reasons of hypokalemia - Answers reduced potassium intake, GI losses through vomiting and NG
suction, diarrhea, ileostomy, diuterics (especially loop)
s/s hypokalemia - Answers cardiac dysrhythmias, fatigu, anorexia, nausea+vomiting, weakness in legs,
paresthesias
anorexia - Answers This condition causes death due to heart failure, fatal arrhythmias, fluid and
electrolyte imbalances
tx hypokalemia - Answers potassium replacement, oral route preferred because there is less likelihood
of dysrhthmias by can be IV- IV pump is needed at a steady rate, a central line is preferred because the
hypertonic solution is very irritating to veins, can never be as an IV blus
hyperkalemia - Answers serum potassium>5.3 mEQ/L
reasons for hyperkalemia - Answers kidney failure is the most common cause. Also K-spaing diuretics/ac
inhibitors, escess intake of KCl especially through an IV, metabolic acidosis because K shifts out of cells
and into venous system, or massive tissue injury
