27 Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy is one of the most common interventions in patients who are acutely unwell. Inappropriate IV fluid therapy has been associated with patient harm and an increased risk of death in postsurgical patients.1 Guidelines issued by NICE (2013) emphasise the importance of healthcare professionals who are involved in delivering IV fluid therapy, having a good understanding of patients’ fluid and electrolyte requirements.2 There is a need for nurses to be trained and competent in the administration and monitoring of IV fluid therapy. The movement of fluids and electrolytes through the fluid body compartments (Figure 27.1) ensures that adequate supplies of oxygen, nutrients and electrolytes, essential for cellular function, are delivered. Electrolytes are solutions in which compounds have dissociated to form charged particles called ions. Examples are: Na+ (sodium), K+ (potassium), Cl– (chloride), Mg++ (magnesium), Ca+ (calcium) and HCO3– (bicarbonate). These are essential for regulating acid base balance, neuromuscular excitability, neural function and enzyme reactions. Ions move through passive transport mechanisms, down a concentration gradient, often through a semipermeable membrane such as the cell wall, or the endothelial lining of the blood vessel. Movement of ions or particles occurs by:
Fluid, electrolytes and intravenous fluids
Fluid and electrolyte balance
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
