Focus On: Fluids & Electrolytes

Page reviewed and updated: March 12, 2025

Attention to a patient’s fluid and electrolyte status is essential for nurses no matter where you work. Imbalances can quickly turn into life-threatening situations and it is imperative to fine tune your knowledge and skills to recognize subtle signs and symptoms and intervene appropriately when an issue with fluids and electrolytes arises. Even if you are well into your nursing career, it’s important to refresh and review this critical information.

Use these peer-reviewed resources to understand the importance of volume status and electrolyte abnormalities in your patients. Our journal articles, continuing education (CE) activities and pocket card will help you master fluids and electrolytes quickly so you can get back to what matters most – the patient. 

Fluids & Electrolytes Articles & Resources

Quick Guide to Laboratory Values POCKET CARD 
Lippincott NursingCenter

IV Fluids POCKET CARD 
Lippincott NursingCenter

Ultrasound-Guided Fluid Volume Management in Patients With Septic Shock: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal of Trauma Nursing, March/April 2025

Unapproved potassium phosphate products increase risk of aluminum toxicity in infants
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, January 2025

CE Acute Hyperkalemia Management in the Emergency Department
Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal, January/March 2024 

Fluid Status Vulnerability in Older Adults
Journal of Infusion Nursing, January/February 2024

Evaluation of a Nurse-Driven Fluid Management Protocol to Improve Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients
Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, July/September 2023

Electrolyte Imbalance Among Patients With and With No ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Cohort Study
Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, April/June 2023

Impact of Transfusing Packed Red Blood Cells Through a Rapid Infuser on Potassium Levels
Journal of Trauma Nursing, January/February 2023

CE Common electrolyte abnormalities in primary care: Hypercalcemia
The Nurse Practitioner, July 2022

Electrolyte Disorders Common in Thiazide Diuretic Users
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, January 2022

Electrolyte Analysis and Replacement: Challenging a Paradigm in Surgical Patients
Journal of Trauma Nursing, April/May 2020

CE Concentration and Volume: Understanding Sodium and Water in the Body
AJN, American Journal of Nursing, April 2020

 

More Fluids and Electrolyte Resources