
How do you calculate fluid balance?
How do you calculate daily fluid maintenance?
- For 0 – 10 kg = weight (kg) x 100 mL/kg/day.
- For 10-20 kg = 1000 mL + [weight (kg) x 50 ml/kg/day]
- For > 20 kg = 1500 mL + [weight (kg) x 20 ml/kg/day]
How do you maintain fluid balance?
- Essential minerals
- Controls osmosis between fluid compartments
- Help maintain acid-base balance
- Carry electrical (ionic) current for action potentials
How to calculate fluid balance?
How to perform skill of calculating Fluid Balance?
- Introduction Phase. Introduce Yourself with your name and as the nurse for today. ...
- Procedural Phase. Read aloud the different values given in the scenario to the patient and confirm with the patient whether everything is true or not.
- Calculation Phase. Calculate the cumulative balance, decide whether its positive or negative balance. ...
What is the cardinal principle regarding fluid balance?
The cardinal principle of fluid balance is that it can be maintained only if intake equals A. Electrolyte concentration B. Water concentration C. Output D. Input. c. output. Water enters the body by way of the digestive tract and by way of the A. Cardiovascular system

Fluid balance
Fluid balance is the balance of the input and output of fluids in the body to allow metabolic processes to function correctly. Calculating the intake and output of a patient is an important aspect of nursing.
Fluid volume deficit
Fluid volume deficit is when fluid output exceeds fluid intake, that is, the patient is not getting enough fluid.
Fluid volume excess
Fluid volume excess (or fluid volume overload) is when fluid input exceeds fluid output, that is, the patient is getting too much fluid in their body.
Full Transcript
Hi, I'm Meris. And in this video, we're going to be talking about fluid balance, osmolarity, calculating intake and output, and also talking about fluid volume excess and fluid volume deficit. Very important stuff to know for nursing school. I'm going to be following along using our Nursing Fundamentals flashcards.
What is fluid balance?
Fluid balance is the measuring of a patient’s fluid input and output and calculating the net difference or balance. Depending on your patient’s fluid status, you will have set a 24-hour goal for their fluid balance – positive, negative, neutral.
Why do we need to record fluid balance?
The main reasons to record fluid balance is to prevent or correct dehydration and fluid overload.
What is input in a patient?
Input will be all the fluid intake a patient is having during the day including orally, via nasogastric or PEG and intravenously.
Is urine output useful?
Urine output can be really helpful to judge your interventions over a few hours e.g. the effects of di uretics
Do hospital patients get IV fluids?
Almost every patient admitted to hospital receive s IV fluids at some point in their journey. However, the body manages this, without the need for careful medical assessment and adjustment, as fluid balance is one of its core functions. Despite this, there are many situations where we need careful and controlled management. These include:
What causes water balance to be sluggish?
Some medicines, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, and liver or kidney problems can all upset your water balance. Treatment helps you to manage the imbalance. It also involves identifying and treating what caused the imbalance.
How do electrolytes get low?
You get them from the foods you eat and the fluids you drink. The levels of electrolytes in your body can become too low or too high. This can happen when the amount of water in your body changes. The amount of water that you take in should equal the amount you lose. If something upsets this balance, you may have too little water ( dehydration) ...
Why are electrolytes important?
Balance the amount of water in your body. Balance your body's acid/base (pH) level. Move nutrients into your cells. Move wastes out of your cells.
What is fluid balance?
Fluid balance is a term used to describe the balance of the input and output of fluids in the body to allow metabolic processes to function correctly (Welch, 2010). Around 52% of total body weight in women and 60% in men is fluid.
How much does fluid volume fluctuate?
Total fluid volume fluctuates by less than 1%, and fluid intake should be balanced by fluid loss (Scales and Pilsworth, 2008; Thomas and Bishop, 2007).
How often should you record fluid balance chart?
How frequently the fluid balance chart data should be recorded – such as hourly or two hourly – should be clearly documented. It is not acceptable practice to use shorthand.
What hormones are produced when water intake is high?
When water intake is high, less ADH is produced, so the kidneys produce large quantities of dilute urine (Scales and Pilsworth, 2008). During times of fluid insufficiency, the adrenal glands produce the hormone aldosterone, which stimulates the reabsorption of sodium from the distal renal tubules and collecting ducts.
What is the effect of thirst on fluid intake?
As the osmotic concentration of the blood increases, this draws water from the cells into the blood .
Why is fluid intake so inadequate?
Inadequate fluid intake can be caused by a refusal to drink due to fear of incontinence , dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, fluid restriction for conditions such as heart failure, and increased frailty (see Box 1). Box 1. inadequate fluid intake causes. Refusal to drink for fear of incontinence;
How does fluid circulate between compartments?
Fluid circulates between compartments by diffusion. This is “the random movement of particles from regions where they are highly concentrated to areas of low concentration. Movement continues until the concentration is equally distributed” (Casey, 2004).
What is fluid balance?
Fluid balance, also known as fluid homeostasis, describes the balancing of the body’s fluid input and output levels to prevent the fluid concentration from changing (Payne 2017; Bannerman 2018).
Why is fluid balance important?
It is essential that fluid balance chartsare accurately completed in order to determine a patient’s fluid input and outputand identify any potential fluid loss or gain that could be detrimental, requiring escalation of care.
Why is it important to record fluid balance?
In order to curb any preventable fluid imbalances, it is crucial to correctly record your patients’ fluid input and output. Having a well-documented fluid balance chart allows nurses to recognise trends that indicate a patient may be heading in a downward spiral.
What does it mean when a patient has a positive fluid balance?
A positive fluid balanceindicates that the patient’s fluid input is higher than their output (Bannerman 2018). The condition describing excess fluid is known as hypervolaemiaor fluid overload.
Why do we need fluid balance charts?
It is crucial to use fluid balance charts in order to identify if a patient’s fluid balance is positive or negative, as these imbalances will need to be remedied (Bannerman 2018). If confronted with either kind of imbalance, remember to escalate care if the patient deteriorates and perform basic life support if required.
What is inadequate fluid?
The condition describing inadequate fluid is known as hypovolaemia. Hypovolaemia is caused by significant fluid loss (hypovolaemic shock is defined as a loss of more than 20%), preventing the heart from circulating enough blood around the body. This can result in organ failure.
When completing a fluid balance chart, should you record any fluid intake by the patient in exact quantities?
When completing a fluid balance chart, you should record any fluid intake by the patient in exact quantities, as well as the type of fluid. For example, if you give the patient a 200mL glass of water, you will record that information. You should also keep a running total (CQC 2019).
