Electrolytes Cheat Sheet
HYPO HYPER
Causes S&S Causes S&S
(135-145) A - Adrenal ❖ Tachycardia D - Fluid deprivation ❖ Normo/↓ HR
insufficiency ❖ Normal/↓/↑ BP I - IV hypertonic solution excess ❖ Normal/↓/↑ BP
Na I - H20 intoxication
D - Diuretics
❖
❖
Headache
Personality change
V - Vitamins “Sodium”
supplement
❖
❖
Irregular HR
↑BS
❖ Salt S - SIADH ❖ Weakness A - Amount of Na intake excess ❖ Thirst
❖ Soy sauce ❖ Hyperactive BS ❖ Restlessness
❖ Pork ❖ Seizures ❖ Dyspnea
❖ Cott/amer ❖ Muscle weakness
❖ Cheese
❖ Spinach Interventions Interventions
❖ Pickles
D - Diet, cheese, milk, soy sauce, salt, bacon, beef M - Monitor sodium intake/ Labs
broth A - Alka-Seltzer, aspirin , and cough preps shouldn’t be
R - Restrict fluids and NPO administered
G - gravity of urine monitoring
W - Weights daily I - I&O
A - Administer Iv hypertonic solutions C - Cardiac monitoring
I-I&O
T -Thiazide diuretics
G - GI loss (Vomiting) ❖ Tachydysrhythmias M- medications Ace, ❖ Bradydysrhythmias
(3.5-5.0) O – Osmotic Diuresis
T – Thiazides and
❖
❖
Ortho hypotension
Lethargy/fatigue
spironolactone, NSAIDS
A- Acidosis: metabolic and
❖
❖
Tall “T” waves on
EKG
Loop diuretics ❖ ↓ BS, constipation respiratory ❖ Cardiac arrest
K S – Severe Acid
❖
❖
Anorexia
Muscle weakness
C- Cell destruction (burn,
trauma, Injury)
❖
❖
↑BS Diarrhea
Paresthesias
❖ Avocados Imbalance ❖ “U” waves on EKG H- Hypoaldosteronism
❖ Raisins H- I- intake excess K
❖ Cantaloupe Hyperaldosteronism N- nephrons/ renal failure
❖ Bananas O - Other meds such E- excretion : impaired
❖ Skim milk as Corticosteroids
❖ Spinach T- Transcellular Shift
Interventions Interventions
A- Assess EKG and ABG M - Monitor EKG
I - IV Potassium Chloride D - Diet, limit green leafy veggies and avocado
D - Diet: green leafy veggies K - Kayexalate administration
***NEVER PUSH POTASSIUM IV*** I - IV sodium Bicarb, Calcium Gluconate
D - Dialysis
❖ Hypotension ❖ Dysrhythmias
(9-11) A - Antibiotics
C - Corticosteroids
❖
❖
Bradycardia
Tetany muscle
H - Hyperparathyroidism
A - Antacids
❖
❖
Pallor
HTN
I - Insulin spasm M - Malignancies cancer cells ❖ ↓ LOC Disorientation
Ca D - Diuretics ❖ Laryngospasm/stri
dor
release excess ca+ ❖
❖
↓ DTR
↓ BS, constipation
❖ Yogurt ❖ ↑ DTR, ↑ BS
❖ Cheese/mil diarrhea
❖ Sardines ❖ + Trousseau sign
❖ Rhubarb ❖ + Chvostek sign
Interventions Interventions
D - Diuretics F - sodium containing fluids
I- I&O I - IV phosphate
C - Calcium channel blockers /Calcium Gluconate L - Lasix
M - Monitor Labs and I&O
❖ HYPO: seizures, tetany, ❖ HYPO: muscle pain & weakness, bone pain,
anorexia, tachycardia, HTN, confusion
(1.3-2.1) ❖
mood changes
HYPER: ↓ DTR, N/V,
(2.5-4.5) ❖ HYPER: circumoral & peripheral parenthesis,
muscle spasms, tetany
bradycardia, hypotension, ❖ FOODS: tuna, beef liver, pork, milk and
Mg ❖
coma
FOODS: spinach, avocado,
Ph yogurt.
tuna, oatmeal and milk
www.SimpleNursing.com