The Basics of Electrolytes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Starting off: what is an electrolyte? Electrolytes are minerals with an electric charge that can be found in your blood, urine, body tissues, other bodily fluids,1<\/sup> and even outside the human body (maybe more so, but I\u2019m not a molecular chemist, so please humor me). They serve many functions in the body:1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n When a person eats and drinks, they consume and (hopefully) absorb electrolytes through the process of digestion.1 <\/sup>Once in the bloodstream and body tissues, the body regulates electrolytes\u2019 levels through physiologic activities like active transport, diffusion, and eventually excretion. Electrolytes are found inside (intracellular) and outside (extracellular) the body\u2019s cells. This fact is important to remember when thinking about specific electrolyte levels (more on this later). The most common electrolytes we will cover today are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In case you were wondering, the little numbers, pluses, and minuses are each electrolyte\u2019s ionic charge. For more information, check out this course from Khan Academy<\/a> to buff up your knowledge coat (a little laboratory joke).<\/p>\n\n\n\n One final note<\/b>: A lot of the following information was harvested fresh from the respective Picmonic Content Cards. Our ability to synthesize vast databases of information to bring you high-quality, memorable content serves as an invitation for you, Dear User, to consider diving into Picmonic for RNs<\/a> or LPNs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n NaCL up in your salt shaker, friend! Table salt that is. For this segment, we’re focusing on Na and leaving out the Cl (stay tuned). Sodium supports healthy nerve and muscle function, as well as supporting fluid balance within the body.2<\/sup> Dietary intake is how humans absorb sodium (fun fact: U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend most adults eat less than<\/strong> 2.3 grams of table salt per day<\/b> or about 1 teaspoon)<\/b>, and the kidneys regulate serum (bloodstream) sodium levels under normal circumstances.2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sodium levels can get a little wacky if there is present kidney disease, overconsumption of dietary sodium, or problems retaining fluid levels in the serum.2<\/sup> These conditions can lead to low sodium (hyponatremia) or high sodium (hypernatremia) serum levels. Typically, the reference range for sodium is 136-145 mmol\/L<\/b>3. <\/strong>Some references may cite 135 mmol\/L4 as the lower reference figure. Also, serum sodium is primarily extracellular<\/i>, and you\u2019ll see higher levels of sodium outside the body\u2019s cells.4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n Milk does the body good! So do kale, spinach, salmon, tofu, cheese, and some fruit juices. Bones and teeth store the majority of calcium in the human body, and calcium is needed to support skeletal system development and maintenance, muscle contraction, blood vessel functions, hormone secretion, and neurologic signaling.6<\/sup> Low calcium (hypocalcemia) or high calcium (hypercalcemia) levels in the serum can alter the functioning of these body systems. Serum calcium is primarily protein-bound, attaching itself for transportation around the body on albumin.6<\/sup> A reference range for calcium is 8.5 to 10.2 mg\/dL. Many references may present slightly different levels. A serum calcium lab measures protein-bound levels, and sometimes a provider may order an ionized calcium test, where the calcium is free or not attached to proteins.6<\/sup> This measurement can help when observing changes in calcium level and diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n Gwen would be proud to know you are hard at work gettin\u2019 your electrolyte boogie on! The next section is all about Potassium, or K+ (the K stands for “King of the Electrolytes”). Potassium is found in spinach, bananas, collard greens, blackberries, carrots, potatoes, oranges10<\/sup>\u2026the list goes on and on. As humans consume foods and drinks with potassium, their kidneys regulate potassium through the urine.10<\/sup> Potassium assists with nerve, cardiac, and muscle functions and assists with bringing nutrients into the cell and escorting waste byproducts out.10<\/sup> An expected range for potassium is 3.5 to 5 mEq\/L11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This post is so long it has its own intermission! Go grab a snack, visit the porcelain throne, and let me tell you about Picmonic\u2019s new \u201c70 Cheat Sheets for Nursing School, NCLEX and New Grads!\u201d It\u2019s full of useful information for nursing students on Day 1 of nursing school, all the way to your 100th day as a postgraduate nurse! So, be on the lookout for this high-quality asset to your study arsenal! \u2026.Lights flip on, then off, then on (this means returning to your seat).<\/p>\n\n\n Is Chloride used in swimming pools? Close! It is one electron away! Humans consume chloride in some foods and in table salt (along with it\u2019s BFF Na+), and is needed to maintain the proper balance of bodily fluids and the composition of digestive juices.14<\/sup> Also, it’s important for neurons to fire, interacting with a neurotransmitter known as GABA.15<\/sup>The almighty kidney is what regulates the level of chloride in the serum, and a reference range to remember is 95-105 mEq\/L15.<\/p>\n\n\n First of all, sorry for the Dad Jokes. We just can\u2019t help ourselves. Magnesium is needed for the proper functioning of your muscles, neurons and cardiac cells, and tissues.17<\/sup> In fact, it’s responsible for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the human body.18<\/sup> It is one of the most potentially innovative electrolytes out there with ongoing research looking into its role in preventing hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.18<\/sup>The reference range for magnesium is 1.5 to 2.5 mEq\/L19. Magnesium is found intracellularly and as a cation with a close relationship in managing calcium and potassium balances.21 Many foods contain magnesium, including leafy, green vegetables, nuts, bananas, oranges, peanut butter, and chocolate (lots and lots of chocolate).20<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n Last dad joke\u2026we promise. Phosphate is like a secret agent, an abundant electrolyte in your body yet secluding itself to your bones and teeth.22<\/sup> Ready to strike when the moment is right. Well, ready to work with calcium to fortify your bony parts.22<\/sup> Phosphate is a chemical formulation of inorganic chemicals, with a phosphorus base, and is also a key component of DNA and RNA.23<\/sup> As a key component, it supports the transportation of cellular energy in ATP. The reference range for phosphate is 2.5-4.5 mg\/dL.23 PPPPPPPHHHHHHHEEEEEWWWWWWWW!!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s all folks, please enjoy this overload of information. As always, you can find much, much, much more at Picmonic for RNs<\/a> and LPNs<\/a>. See you on the frontlines of healthcare!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For additional reference, check out these rad infographic Resources from Picmonic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more details, be sure to check out our mnemonics for nursing<\/a>, where our proven visual mnemonics will really get those concepts burned into your brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ah, chemistry. The ephemeral fabric bringing our world together. Okay, maybe not to the majority of the population. However, nursing professionals and middle school science teachers alike must prep to understand the influence electrolytes have on this world. So, what is important to know about electrolytes for nursing school and thereafter? A foundational understanding of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[428],"tags":[341,441,340,440,448,444,240,14,443,449,445,451,442,450,452,456,457,454,248,446,447,19,455,170,453],"class_list":["post-8061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nursing-school-study-exams","tag-ati","tag-audiovisual","tag-hesi","tag-magnesium","tag-med-surg","tag-mnemonics","tag-nclex","tag-nclex-prep","tag-nursing-field-of-study","tag-nursing-help","tag-nursing-mnemonics","tag-nursing-prep","tag-nursing-school-organization","tag-nursing-school-help","tag-nursing-school-prep","tag-nursing-video-blog","tag-nursing-video-resource","tag-nursing-vlog","tag-nursing-student","tag-pharm","tag-pharmacology","tag-picmonic","tag-video-blog","tag-visual-learning","tag-vlog"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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Holy Socratic Sodium, Batman!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"infographic](\"https:\/\/www.picmonic.com\/pages\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/electrolytes-infographics-table-hyponatremia-hypernatremia-1-410x1024.webp\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nNow You See Me, Now You Calcium<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"infographic](\"https:\/\/www.picmonic.com\/pages\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/electrolytes-infographics-table-hypocalcemia-hypercalcemia-1-410x1024.webp\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nPotassium is BANANAS! B-A-N-A-N-A-S! (Literally)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Intermission<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"infographic](\"https:\/\/www.picmonic.com\/pages\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/electrolytes-infographics-table-hypokalemia-hyperkalemia-1-410x1024.webp\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTake a ChloRIDE on the Wild Side!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Table](\"https:\/\/cdn.picmonic.com\/pages\/wp-content\/uploads\/electrolytes-infographics-table-hypochloremia-hyperchloremia.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhich electrolyte has joints? MagNESium!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"infographic](\"https:\/\/www.picmonic.com\/pages\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/electrolytes-infographics-table-hypomagnesemia-hypermagnesemia-1-410x1024.webp\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDon’t Hate the Phosphate!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n![\"Table](\"https:\/\/cdn.picmonic.com\/pages\/wp-content\/uploads\/electrolytes-infographics-table-hypophosphatemia-hyperphosphatemia.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nClosing Ceremonies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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