1. What is third spacing?: When fluid accumulates in a portion of the body from which
it is not easily exchanged with the rest of the ECF (e.g., burns, blisters).
2. What is the normal osmolality range for the blood?: 275-295
3. Give an example of a high serum osmolality (number and what we could conclude
from that number): Serum osmolality of 300 means more solute than volume= water
deficit AKA-fluid volume deficit
4. Give an example of a low serum osmolality (number and what we could conclude
from that number): Serum osmolality of 270 means less solute than volume= water
overload AKA fluid volume excess
5. Urine specific gravity range: 1.005-1.030
6. low specific gravity indicates: dilute urine
7. high specific gravity indicates: dehydration and concentrated urine
8. Normal range for BUN: 10-20 mg/dL
9. What is hematocrit?: percent of blood volume that is RBCs
10. Partial pressure of oxygen range (PAO2): 80-100
11. What type of IV solution would be used for someone with cerebral edema or severe
hyponatremia?: Hypertonic solution
12. How do you know an ABG issue is partially compensated?: When all 3 factors
are abnormal (pH, HCO3, CO2)
13. How do you know when an ABG issue is uncompensated?: When pH and one other
factor are abnormal and the other factor is normal
14. How do you know when an ABG issue is fully compensated?: when the pH is normal
and both the other parameters are abnormal
15. What are the normal parameters for pH, CO2 and HCO3?: pH- 7.35-7.45 CO2- 35-
45
HCO3- 22-26
16. How do you know what the original problem was for a fully compensated
problem?: Look at the pH!
If the pH is 7.35-7.4 it was an acidic problem
If the pH is 7.41-7.45 it was an alkalotic problem
17. Respiratory alkalosis can lead to the same symptoms as what type of electrolyte
imbalance?: Hypocalcemia symptoms- tingling of the face, chvosteks sign etc.
18. What electrolyte imbalance is the rarest imbalance?: metabolic alkalosis
19. Why is metabolic alkalosis hard to compensate for?: Because the RR needs to slow
down in order to compensate for it and you don't want it to slow down too much
otherwise you could die
1/5
, 20. Acidodic patients tend to be more whereas alkalotic pa-
tients tend to be more : Acidodic patients= more lethargic
Alkalotic patients= more excitable
21. What is Chvostek's sign?: It is a sign of hypocalcemia. You tap on the facial nerve (on
the cheek in front of the ear) and the persons face will twitch when you do that.
22. What is Trousseau's sign?: It is another sign of hypocalcemia. BP cuff inflated and
causes a carpal spasm.
23. What are 2 important assessments to perform when looking for signs of
hyponatremia?: LOC and UO
24. Normal calcium lab values?: 9.0-10.5
25. Normal Magnesium values?: 1.3-2.1 mEq/L
26. Normal potassium levels?: 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
27. Normal Sodium levels?: 135-145 mEq/L
28. What does aldosterone do?: tells body to hold onto sodium and water follows
29. What are expected lab values for fluid volume deficit?: increased hematocrit, serum
osmolality, BUN and sodium
30. What are expected lab values for fluid volume excess?: decreased hemat- ocrit,
serum osmolality, BUN and sodium
31. What is sodium in charge of?: controls water distribution, nerve impulses and muscle
contraction
32. What is potassium in charge of?: skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction
33. What is calcium in charge of?: nerve impulse transmission, regulates muscles
contractions, bone and teeth density
34. What is magnesium in charge of?: muscle contractions, influences use of
potassium, calcium and protein
Low Mg= low albumin
35. What are other drugs you would expect to be given with potassium?: mag- nesium
and spironolactone (potassium sparing diuretic)
36. How to tell if someone is experiencing a anterior or posterior nose bleed-
: have them open their mouth and see if there is blood in their mouth or throat (this would
be indicative of a posterior bleed)
37. What is the biggest concern with nasal packing>: Airway obstruction
S/S: decreased O2 saturation
38. SIADH causes water and a decrease in
levels: retention
sodium (hyponatremia)
2/5
it is not easily exchanged with the rest of the ECF (e.g., burns, blisters).
2. What is the normal osmolality range for the blood?: 275-295
3. Give an example of a high serum osmolality (number and what we could conclude
from that number): Serum osmolality of 300 means more solute than volume= water
deficit AKA-fluid volume deficit
4. Give an example of a low serum osmolality (number and what we could conclude
from that number): Serum osmolality of 270 means less solute than volume= water
overload AKA fluid volume excess
5. Urine specific gravity range: 1.005-1.030
6. low specific gravity indicates: dilute urine
7. high specific gravity indicates: dehydration and concentrated urine
8. Normal range for BUN: 10-20 mg/dL
9. What is hematocrit?: percent of blood volume that is RBCs
10. Partial pressure of oxygen range (PAO2): 80-100
11. What type of IV solution would be used for someone with cerebral edema or severe
hyponatremia?: Hypertonic solution
12. How do you know an ABG issue is partially compensated?: When all 3 factors
are abnormal (pH, HCO3, CO2)
13. How do you know when an ABG issue is uncompensated?: When pH and one other
factor are abnormal and the other factor is normal
14. How do you know when an ABG issue is fully compensated?: when the pH is normal
and both the other parameters are abnormal
15. What are the normal parameters for pH, CO2 and HCO3?: pH- 7.35-7.45 CO2- 35-
45
HCO3- 22-26
16. How do you know what the original problem was for a fully compensated
problem?: Look at the pH!
If the pH is 7.35-7.4 it was an acidic problem
If the pH is 7.41-7.45 it was an alkalotic problem
17. Respiratory alkalosis can lead to the same symptoms as what type of electrolyte
imbalance?: Hypocalcemia symptoms- tingling of the face, chvosteks sign etc.
18. What electrolyte imbalance is the rarest imbalance?: metabolic alkalosis
19. Why is metabolic alkalosis hard to compensate for?: Because the RR needs to slow
down in order to compensate for it and you don't want it to slow down too much
otherwise you could die
1/5
, 20. Acidodic patients tend to be more whereas alkalotic pa-
tients tend to be more : Acidodic patients= more lethargic
Alkalotic patients= more excitable
21. What is Chvostek's sign?: It is a sign of hypocalcemia. You tap on the facial nerve (on
the cheek in front of the ear) and the persons face will twitch when you do that.
22. What is Trousseau's sign?: It is another sign of hypocalcemia. BP cuff inflated and
causes a carpal spasm.
23. What are 2 important assessments to perform when looking for signs of
hyponatremia?: LOC and UO
24. Normal calcium lab values?: 9.0-10.5
25. Normal Magnesium values?: 1.3-2.1 mEq/L
26. Normal potassium levels?: 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
27. Normal Sodium levels?: 135-145 mEq/L
28. What does aldosterone do?: tells body to hold onto sodium and water follows
29. What are expected lab values for fluid volume deficit?: increased hematocrit, serum
osmolality, BUN and sodium
30. What are expected lab values for fluid volume excess?: decreased hemat- ocrit,
serum osmolality, BUN and sodium
31. What is sodium in charge of?: controls water distribution, nerve impulses and muscle
contraction
32. What is potassium in charge of?: skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction
33. What is calcium in charge of?: nerve impulse transmission, regulates muscles
contractions, bone and teeth density
34. What is magnesium in charge of?: muscle contractions, influences use of
potassium, calcium and protein
Low Mg= low albumin
35. What are other drugs you would expect to be given with potassium?: mag- nesium
and spironolactone (potassium sparing diuretic)
36. How to tell if someone is experiencing a anterior or posterior nose bleed-
: have them open their mouth and see if there is blood in their mouth or throat (this would
be indicative of a posterior bleed)
37. What is the biggest concern with nasal packing>: Airway obstruction
S/S: decreased O2 saturation
38. SIADH causes water and a decrease in
levels: retention
sodium (hyponatremia)
2/5
