Medical Surgical Nursing: Fluids and Electrolytes
Medical Surgical Nursing: Fluids and Electrolytes
Medical Surgical Nursing: Fluids and Electrolytes
After 16 hours of synchronous and asynchronous classes, the learner is able to:
Importance:
- Fundamental to the process of life. Abnormal fluid volume and electrolyte concentrations can
seriously alter physiologic homeostasis and can be life threatening.
-Understanding how fluid and electrolyte disturbances occur and how the body compensates,
serves as a foundation for understanding many diseases and associated nursing management.
INTRODUCTION
Factors that influence the amount of fluid are age, gender and
body fat.
COMPOSITION OF BODY FLUIDS
Solutes
- Cations (+)
- Anions (-)
MAJOR CATIONS
Hydrogen
Sodium
Potassium
Magnesium
Calcium
MAJOR ANIONS
Chloride
Bicarbonate
Sulphate
Phosphate
Unit: mEq/L
REGULATION OF BODY FLUID
COMPARTMENTS
Example 1: Childbirth
When labor begins, the baby’s head is pushed
downwards and results in increased pressure on the
cervix. This stimulates receptor cells to send a chemical
signal to the brain, allowing the release of oxytocin. This
oxytocin diffuses to the cervix via the blood, where it
stimulated further contractions. These contractions
stimulate further oxytocin release until the baby is born.
Blood Clotting
When tissue is torn or injured, a chemical is released.
This chemical causes platelets in the blood to activate.
Once these platelets have activated, they release a
chemical which signals more platelets to activate, until
the wound is clotted.
NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
MECHANISM
A negative feedback loop occurs in biology when the
product of a reaction leads to a decrease in that reaction.
The key difference between positive and negative feedback is their response
to change: positive feedback amplifies change while negative feedback
reduces change. This means that positive feedback will result in more of a
product: more apples, more contractions, or more clotting platelets. Negative
feedback will result in less of a product: less heat, less pressure, or less salt.
Positive feedback moves away from a target point while negative feedback
moves towards a target.
WHY IS FEEDBACK IMPORTANT?
video # 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOa0n4nTLT8
h. ADH - regulates water excretion
stored in the pituitary gland produced by the
hypothalamus.