Description

Assignment Electrolyte Imbalance

Patient Profile
E.G. is a 73-year-old woman whose daughter brings her to see the health care provider because she has
had a case of the “stomach flu,” with vomiting and diarrhea for the past three to four days and is now
experiencing occasional light-headedness and dizziness. Her past medical history includes hypertension,
hypercholesterolemia, and mild heart failure. She is taking:

What is a possible pathophysiologic cause of E.G.’s muscle weakness and dizziness? What
other symptom does E.G. have that may be related to this problem?

What factors contributed to the development of this electrolyte imbalance?

What should you be on an alert for in a patient who is on furosemide and digoxin and why?

What diagnostic test is indicated and why?

What additional signs and symptoms should the nurse assess E.G. for?

What instructions should you give E.G. regarding the signs and symptoms of this electrolyte
imbalance and how to prevent it?