Fluid & Electrolyte Imbalances
Learning Outcomes
Safe and Effective Care Environment
1 Assess the patient with a fluid or electrolyte imbalance for falls, especially older adults.
2 Use safety precautions to prevent injury or death when administering parenteral potassium-containing solutions.
3 Supervise the oral fluid therapy and intake and output measurement aspects of care delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel.
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4 Teach healthy adults and patients how to prevent dehydration.
5 Assess patients for factors that increase the risk for fluid and electrolyte imbalances, especially for older adults.
6 Teach patients at risk for fluid or electrolyte imbalances as a result of drug therapy about the manifestations of the imbalance.
Physiological Integrity
7 Explain the relationship between weight gain or loss and fluid imbalances.
8 Apply knowledge of the anatomic and physiologic responses to aging when assessing hydration status of an older adult.
9 Use laboratory data and clinical manifestations to determine the presence of fluid or electrolyte imbalances.
10 Interpret blood chemistry laboratory results to determine whether the patient has a fluid or electrolyte imbalance and to determine effectiveness of interventions.
11 Assess the breathing effectiveness of any patient with skeletal muscle weakness from an electrolyte imbalance.
12 Prioritize interventions for patients who have dehydration or fluid overload.
13 Prioritize interventions for patients who have specific electrolyte imbalances.
HOMEOSTASIS * The body has many control mechanisms, called homeostatic mechanisms to prevent fluctuations in fluid and electrolytes.
* Water is the most common substance in the body, making up about 55% to 60% of total body weight for healthy younger adults and 50% to 55% of total body weight for healthy older adults. * This water (fluid) is divided into two main spaces or compartments: 1. Extracellular fluid (ECF): The
Safe and Effective Care Environment
1 Assess the patient with a fluid or electrolyte imbalance for falls, especially older adults.
2 Use safety precautions to prevent injury or death when administering parenteral potassium-containing solutions.
3 Supervise the oral fluid therapy and intake and output measurement aspects of care delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel.
Health Promotion and Maintenance
4 Teach healthy adults and patients how to prevent dehydration.
5 Assess patients for factors that increase the risk for fluid and electrolyte imbalances, especially for older adults.
6 Teach patients at risk for fluid or electrolyte imbalances as a result of drug therapy about the manifestations of the imbalance.
Physiological Integrity
7 Explain the relationship between weight gain or loss and fluid imbalances.
8 Apply knowledge of the anatomic and physiologic responses to aging when assessing hydration status of an older adult.
9 Use laboratory data and clinical manifestations to determine the presence of fluid or electrolyte imbalances.
10 Interpret blood chemistry laboratory results to determine whether the patient has a fluid or electrolyte imbalance and to determine effectiveness of interventions.
11 Assess the breathing effectiveness of any patient with skeletal muscle weakness from an electrolyte imbalance.
12 Prioritize interventions for patients who have dehydration or fluid overload.
13 Prioritize interventions for patients who have specific electrolyte imbalances.
HOMEOSTASIS * The body has many control mechanisms, called homeostatic mechanisms to prevent fluctuations in fluid and electrolytes.
* Water is the most common substance in the body, making up about 55% to 60% of total body weight for healthy younger adults and 50% to 55% of total body weight for healthy older adults. * This water (fluid) is divided into two main spaces or compartments: 1. Extracellular fluid (ECF): The