Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances

Course Overview

How confident are you that you could recognise the signs of a life-threatening electrolyte imbalance? Can you accurately assess and manage a change to a person’s fluid balance? Start this Course now to refresh your knowledge and skills.

Topics

• What are the keys to maintaining fluid balance?
• Why is hypokalaemia so significant?
• How do you recognise the early signs of electrolyte imbalances?
• A guide to selecting IV fluids and much, much more...

Need

Preventing deterioration associated with undetected fluid and electrolyte changes such as hypovolaemic shock, bleeding and arrhythmias is a key priority in older adults and people who are recovering from a procedure.

The provision of care that is underpinned by best practice is known to reduce the likelihood of complications. If patient harm is to be prevented, nurses and other health professionals must continue to update on how to detect and respond early to potential fluid and electrolyte disturbances.

Purpose

The purpose of this Course is to provide key updates on how to detect and manage fluid and electrolyte changes to prevent patient harm and improve patient safety.

Learning Outcomes

• Your sharpened assessment skills will assist in recognising the early signs of electrolyte disturbance more rapidly, preventing harm associated with clinical deterioration.
• A renewed confidence in the knowledge of fluid physiology will support you to more accurately assess and manage a change to a person’s fluid balance.
• You will be able to explain to other team members the basis for the importance of monitoring, reporting and documenting a patient’s fluid and electrolyte status.

Target Audience

Registered nurses and other health professionals who provide care to patients, especially older adults and those recovering postoperatively, will gain confidence from undertaking this Course, given the potential for harm associated with fluid and electrolyte imbalances in these populations.

Disclosure

No conflict of interest exists for anyone in the position to control content for this activity. Wherever possible, generic or non-proprietary names of medications or products have been used.

Educator

Genevieve Brideson View profile

Dr Genevieve Brideson (PhD) is a doctor of nursing in South Australia. She has worked in nursing for over 30 years, including experience working in aviation nursing. Genevieve is currently working as a freelance consultant in various nursing roles, including as a member of the South Australian Health Practitioners Tribunal.