FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE BALANCE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL
DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
Describe the distribution and regulation of body fluids -
...(ANSWERS)....Hydrostatic pressure balance occurs when the volume of weight
in either side of the membrane is equalized. Osmotic pressure balance occurs
when the ratio of particles to fluid is equal on either side of the membrane.
Discuss the factors that affect fluid balance - ...(ANSWERS)....Nutrition, hydration,
exertion, age, weight, body fat percentage, chronic disease,
injury/surgery/wounds
Formulate nursing dx related to fluid imbalances - ...(ANSWERS)....Altered a/o, vs,
muscle weakness/spasms, wt loss/gain, I/O, edema, changes in skin turgor and
condition
Discuss nursing measures & rationale related to altered fluid balance that will
assist patients to meet their self-care needs. - ...(ANSWERS)....ID cause, restore
balance, ensure safety, monitor a/o, I/O, vs, skin
Identify the rationale for using hypo/hyper/isotonic IV fluids -
...(ANSWERS)....Hypo/Iso has more fluid to particles which helps to dilute
overload of any particle or to rehydrate. Hyper has more particles than solvent to
increase particle concentration or to induce excretion of excess fluid.
,Use critical thinking to compare/contrast the rationale for using
hypo/hyper/isotonic fluids - ...(ANSWERS)....To restore balance. Hypo & Iso for
hypovolemic/hypertonic states. Hyper for hypervolemic/hypotonic states
Use critical thinking to determine the effect of fluid and electrolyte imbalances on
multiple body systems. - ...(ANSWERS)....Imbalances can cause various body
systems to overwork to compensate or, worse, cease to function thereby causing
further complications to arise.
Sx of Hyponatremia - ...(ANSWERS)....Irritability, confusion, lethargy, HA, seizure,
muscle spasm/weakness, coma
Sx of True Hyponatremia - ...(ANSWERS)....Orthostatic HoTN, tachycardia, wt loss
Sx of Dilutional Hyponatremia - ...(ANSWERS)....Increased BP, edema, wt gain
Sx of Hypernatremia - ...(ANSWERS)....Fever/flush skin, restlessness/irritability,
increased fluid retention, increased BP, edema, decreased urine output, dry
mouth
Sx of Hypokalemia - ...(ANSWERS)....Fatigue, weakness, leg cramps, resp
dysfunction, hyperglycemia , decreased GI motility, weak/irregular pulse, ECG
changes
, Sx of Hyperkalemia - ...(ANSWERS)....LE muscle cramps, Urine: oliguria (decreased
output), anuria (no output), resp distress, dec cardiac contraction, ECG changes,
hyper-reflexia
Sx of hypocalcemia - ...(ANSWERS)....Convulsions, arrhythmias, tetany
(parathesia, Chvostek, Trosseau), spasms, stridor (harmonica)
Sx of Hypercalcemia - ...(ANSWERS)....Anorexia, nausea, fatigue, constipation,
polyuria, dehydration, ECC changes
Sx of Hypomagnesmia - ...(ANSWERS)....Increased neuromuscular ability, LE
cramping, tremors, hyperactive DTR, tetany, cardiac dysthymia, dysphagia,
paralytic ileus
Sx of Hypermagnesmia - ...(ANSWERS)....Muscle weakness, lethargy, N/V,
diaphoresis, HoTN, bradypnea, bradycardia, decreased DTR, decreased LOR
The minimum amount of urine per day needed to excrete toxic waste products is
___. This minimum volume is called the obligatory urine output. -
...(ANSWERS)....400-600 mL
An adult takes in about ___ of fluid daily from food and liquids. -
...(ANSWERS)....2300 mL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL
DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST UPDATE 2025/2026
Describe the distribution and regulation of body fluids -
...(ANSWERS)....Hydrostatic pressure balance occurs when the volume of weight
in either side of the membrane is equalized. Osmotic pressure balance occurs
when the ratio of particles to fluid is equal on either side of the membrane.
Discuss the factors that affect fluid balance - ...(ANSWERS)....Nutrition, hydration,
exertion, age, weight, body fat percentage, chronic disease,
injury/surgery/wounds
Formulate nursing dx related to fluid imbalances - ...(ANSWERS)....Altered a/o, vs,
muscle weakness/spasms, wt loss/gain, I/O, edema, changes in skin turgor and
condition
Discuss nursing measures & rationale related to altered fluid balance that will
assist patients to meet their self-care needs. - ...(ANSWERS)....ID cause, restore
balance, ensure safety, monitor a/o, I/O, vs, skin
Identify the rationale for using hypo/hyper/isotonic IV fluids -
...(ANSWERS)....Hypo/Iso has more fluid to particles which helps to dilute
overload of any particle or to rehydrate. Hyper has more particles than solvent to
increase particle concentration or to induce excretion of excess fluid.
,Use critical thinking to compare/contrast the rationale for using
hypo/hyper/isotonic fluids - ...(ANSWERS)....To restore balance. Hypo & Iso for
hypovolemic/hypertonic states. Hyper for hypervolemic/hypotonic states
Use critical thinking to determine the effect of fluid and electrolyte imbalances on
multiple body systems. - ...(ANSWERS)....Imbalances can cause various body
systems to overwork to compensate or, worse, cease to function thereby causing
further complications to arise.
Sx of Hyponatremia - ...(ANSWERS)....Irritability, confusion, lethargy, HA, seizure,
muscle spasm/weakness, coma
Sx of True Hyponatremia - ...(ANSWERS)....Orthostatic HoTN, tachycardia, wt loss
Sx of Dilutional Hyponatremia - ...(ANSWERS)....Increased BP, edema, wt gain
Sx of Hypernatremia - ...(ANSWERS)....Fever/flush skin, restlessness/irritability,
increased fluid retention, increased BP, edema, decreased urine output, dry
mouth
Sx of Hypokalemia - ...(ANSWERS)....Fatigue, weakness, leg cramps, resp
dysfunction, hyperglycemia , decreased GI motility, weak/irregular pulse, ECG
changes
, Sx of Hyperkalemia - ...(ANSWERS)....LE muscle cramps, Urine: oliguria (decreased
output), anuria (no output), resp distress, dec cardiac contraction, ECG changes,
hyper-reflexia
Sx of hypocalcemia - ...(ANSWERS)....Convulsions, arrhythmias, tetany
(parathesia, Chvostek, Trosseau), spasms, stridor (harmonica)
Sx of Hypercalcemia - ...(ANSWERS)....Anorexia, nausea, fatigue, constipation,
polyuria, dehydration, ECC changes
Sx of Hypomagnesmia - ...(ANSWERS)....Increased neuromuscular ability, LE
cramping, tremors, hyperactive DTR, tetany, cardiac dysthymia, dysphagia,
paralytic ileus
Sx of Hypermagnesmia - ...(ANSWERS)....Muscle weakness, lethargy, N/V,
diaphoresis, HoTN, bradypnea, bradycardia, decreased DTR, decreased LOR
The minimum amount of urine per day needed to excrete toxic waste products is
___. This minimum volume is called the obligatory urine output. -
...(ANSWERS)....400-600 mL
An adult takes in about ___ of fluid daily from food and liquids. -
...(ANSWERS)....2300 mL
