Med Surg 1 Fluid and Electrolyte Quiz

Med Surg 1 Study Notes

Fluid and Electrolyte Balance

• Homeostasis: Maintenance of stable internal conditions.
• Electrolytes: Key ions include sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and chloride (Cl-).
• Imbalances: Can lead to symptoms like muscle weakness, arrhythmias, or seizures.
  • Hypernatremia: High sodium levels; symptoms include thirst and confusion.
  • Hyponatremia: Low sodium levels; symptoms include headache and nausea.
  • Hyperkalemia: High potassium levels; symptoms include peaked T-waves on ECG.
  • Hypokalemia: Low potassium levels; can cause muscle cramps and arrhythmias.

Respiratory System

• Anatomy: Upper and lower respiratory tracts; key components include trachea, bronchi, and alveoli.
• Gas Exchange: O2 and CO2 exchange occurs in alveoli.
• Common Conditions:
  • COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
  • Asthma: Reversible airway obstruction; triggers include allergens, exercise, and smoke.
• Assessment: Evaluate respiratory rate, effort, and lung sounds.

Cardiovascular System

• Circulation Types: Systemic (through the body) and pulmonary (through the lungs).
• Heart Chambers: Right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle.
• Common Conditions:
  • Heart Failure: Ineffective pumping; assess for dyspnea, edema, and fatigue.
  • Hypertension: High blood pressure; often asymptomatic, can lead to serious complications.
• Assessment: Monitor blood pressure, heart rate, and rhythm.

Gastrointestinal System

• Digestion: Breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients; starts in the mouth, continues in the stomach and intestines.
• Common Conditions:
  • GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease; symptoms include heartburn.
  • IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's and ulcerative colitis); characterized by abdominal pain and diarrhea.
• Assessment: Monitor bowel sounds, abdomen palpation, and bowel habits.

Infections and Inflammation

• Infection Types: Localized vs. systemic; can lead to sepsis if untreated.
• Immune Response: Involves white blood cells, antibodies, and inflammatory mediators.
• Common Infections: Pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), surgical site infections.
• Assessment: Look for signs of infection - redness, warmth, swelling, fever.

Pain Management

• Types of Pain: Acute (short-term) vs. chronic (long-lasting).
• Assessment Tools: Numeric rating scale, Wong-Baker FACES scale.
• Management Strategies: Pharmacological (NSAIDs, opioids) and non-pharmacological (heat/cold application, relaxation techniques).

Patient Safety and Care

• Safety Protocols: Follow infection control measures; use personal protective equipment (PPE); practice fall prevention.
• Patient Education: Importance of medication adherence, understanding their condition, and recognizing symptoms to report.

Nursing Interventions

• Assessment & Monitoring: Regularly assess vital signs and laboratory values.
• Administering medications: Ensure correct dosages and understand pharmacodynamics.
• Patient Advocacy: Support patient needs and preferences in care planning.

Documentation

• Importance: Provides a legal record of care, facilitates communication among healthcare providers, and supports research.
• Components: Assessments, interventions, patient responses, and plans for follow-up.

These notes cover essential concepts and facts for a foundational understanding of Medical-Surgical Nursing (Med Surg 1).

Homeostasis and Electrolyte Balance

• Homeostasis: Maintaining a stable internal environment.
• Key electrolytes: Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K+), Calcium (Ca2+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Chloride (Cl-).
• Electrolyte imbalances cause symptoms like muscle weakness, arrhythmias, and seizures.
• Hypernatremia: High sodium – thirst, confusion.
• Hyponatremia: Low sodium – headache, nausea.
• Hyperkalemia: High potassium – peaked T waves on ECG.
• Hypokalemia: Low potassium – muscle cramps, arrhythmias.

Respiratory System

• Respiratory tract: Upper and lower sections; includes trachea, bronchi, alveoli.
• Gas exchange: Oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange in alveoli.
• COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis).
• Asthma: Reversible airway obstruction; triggered by allergens, exercise, smoke.
• Respiratory assessment: Rate, effort, lung sounds.

Cardiovascular System

• Circulation: Systemic (body) and pulmonary (lungs).
• Heart chambers: Right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle.
• Heart failure: Ineffective pumping; symptoms: dyspnea, edema, fatigue.
• Hypertension: High blood pressure; often asymptomatic, serious complications.
• Cardiovascular assessment: Blood pressure, heart rate, rhythm.

Gastrointestinal System

• Digestion: Food breakdown and nutrient absorption; mouth, stomach, intestines.
• GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease; heartburn.
• IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis); abdominal pain, diarrhea.
• Gastrointestinal assessment: Bowel sounds, abdominal palpation, bowel habits.

Infections and Inflammation

• Infection types: Localized or systemic; sepsis if untreated.
• Immune response: White blood cells, antibodies, inflammatory mediators.
• Common infections: Pneumonia, UTIs, surgical site infections.
• Infection assessment: Redness, warmth, swelling, fever.

Pain Management

• Pain types: Acute (short-term), chronic (long-lasting).
• Pain assessment: Numeric rating scale, Wong-Baker FACES scale.
• Pain management: Pharmacological (NSAIDs, opioids), non-pharmacological (heat/cold, relaxation).

Patient Safety and Care

• Safety protocols: Infection control, PPE, fall prevention.
• Patient education: Medication adherence, condition understanding, symptom recognition.

Nursing Interventions

• Assessment and monitoring: Vital signs, lab values.
• Medication administration: Correct dosages, pharmacodynamics.
• Patient advocacy: Supporting patient needs and preferences.

Documentation

• Importance: Legal record, interprofessional communication, research.
• Components: Assessments, interventions, patient responses, follow-up plans.

Test your knowledge on fluid and electrolyte balance along with respiratory system anatomy and conditions. This quiz covers key concepts like homeostasis, electrolyte imbalances, and common respiratory diseases. Perfect for nursing students preparing for Med Surg exams.