What is electrolyte and fluid balance?
Electrolytes are minerals in your body that have an electric charge. They are in your blood, urine and body fluids. Maintaining the right balance of electrolytes helps your body’s blood chemistry, muscle action and other processes. Sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, phosphate and magnesium are all electrolytes.
What drugs affect fluid and electrolyte balance?
Certain medications may cause an electrolyte imbalance such as:
- Chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin)
- Diuretics (furosemide[Lasix] or bumetanide [Bumex])
- Antibiotics (amphotericin B)
- Corticosteroids (hydrocortisone)
What is fluid nursing?
Fluids don’t remain static within body compartments; instead, they move continuously among them to maintain homeostasis. Cell membranes are semipermeable, meaning they allow fluid and some solutes (particles dissolved in a solution) to pass through. Figure. Two basic fluid compartments.
What are electrolytes nursing?
Electrolytes are ions that carry either a positive or negative charge. Exact concentrations of electrolytes are vital to body pH and overall homeostasis. These electrically charged ions move fluids within the body, produce energy, contract muscles, and perform many other roles in the body.
What are the responsibilities of the RN in the care of patients experiencing fluid and electrolyte imbalances?
The nurse must be alert for central nervous system changes such as lethargy, seizures, confusion, and muscle twitching. Diet. The nurse must encourage intake of electrolytes that are deficient or restrict intake if the electrolyte levels are excessive.
What is the importance of fluids and electrolytes?
Fluid and electrolyte balance is one of the key issues in maintaining homeostasis in the body, and it also palys important roles in protecting cellular function, tissue perfusion and acid-base balance. Fluid and electrolyte balance must also be maintained for the management of many clinical conditions.
What is the most common electrolyte imbalance?
Hyponatremia is the most common form of electrolyte disorder in the emergency room. The symptoms are unspecific and include nausea, dizziness and often falls.
Which electrolyte would the nurse identify as the major electrolyte responsible for determining the concentration of the extracellular fluid?
Sodium, the most prominent electrolyte ‘solute’ in extracellular fluid, is used to monitor extracellular osmolarity.
Why are fluids and electrolytes important?