Medical Complications in Post-Acute Care: Fluids and Acid/Base Balance

Presented by Cheryl Lehman

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Video Runtime: 29 Minutes

This course continues an overview of medical complications that can occur in the post-acute care setting, focusing on issues arising from deficiencies in fluids and acid/base imbalance. Examples of medical complications will be shared, along with clinical pearls on focusing assessment and interventions on early detection and prevention activities. This course is appropriate for licensed nurses working in any setting, but particularly targets those in rehabilitation, long term care and home health.

This course is a part of a series discussing medical complications in complex patients, including the following topics:

Introduction & Infection Management | Pulmonary and Cardiac | Diabetes | Fluids and Acid/Base Balance | Endocrine and Shock

Meet your instructor

Cheryl Lehman

Dr. Cheryl Lehman has been a registered nurse since graduating from the Decatur Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1978. Since that time, she earned a BSN from Maryville University-St. Louis in 1990; an MSN in Adult Health Nursing from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston in the Clinical Nurse…

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Chapters & learning objectives

Fluid and Electrolytes

1. Fluid and Electrolytes

Acute medical complications such as dehydration, overhydration and electrolyte imbalances are possible in the patient in the post-acute care setting. Early recognition of fluid and electrolyte complications is vital to the patient’ health status and to preventing admissions to acute care.. This chapter reviews complications related to fluid and electrolytes, as well as early and late signs for which to monitor.

Acid-Base Balance

2. Acid-Base Balance

This chapter reviews potential acid-base complications, as well as early and late signs for which to monitor. Acid and base imbalances such as metabolic and pulmonary acidosis or metabolic and pulmonary alkalosis are very possible in the patient in the post-acute care setting. Early recognition of acid-base complications an important aspect of care in the post-acute setting.