Hydration: Assessment and Treatment

Course overview

The goal of this hydration course is to teach dietitians how to determine the fluid status of a patient, make treatment recommendations to improve patient outcomes, and participate fully as part of the healthcare team. After studying the information presented here, you will be able to: Discuss the basics of water balance for the body Explain the risks of dehydration in the elderly Identify laboratory values that indicate hydration status and health status Review fluid alterations in various diseases Discuss the appropriate uses for various IV fluids, such as normal saline, hypotonic saline, hypertonic saline, lactated Ringer’s, and colloids Evaluate health status using electrolyte values Assess the hydration status of a patient Determine fluid needs of a patient Differentiate between acid base balance disorders Write fluid recommendations for patients and develop a plan to implement recommendations Evaluate care-planning strategies for fluid deficits