Fluids are the basis of life. Water makes up about 60% of the average human body by weight. The body maintains a delicate balance between fluid being drained out of the body and fluid constantly being replenished in the body. Disturbances in this balance can both indicate and be caused by a variety of pathologies.

Body fluids are filled with dissolved salts and minerals called electrolytes that are ionized with an electrical charge. The electrolyte balance in the body's fluids is absolutely crucial to many body processes, and imbalances can cause pathological conditions and even be life threatening.

Fluid volume balance is a crucial measure of the state of a patient's health. The body is constantly losing water through the skin, kidneys, lungs and GI tract. As fluid enters and exits, the simple amount of fluids in the body must remain in balance. This program will introduce various forms of fluid volume imbalances, the conditions that cause them and nursing interventions to correct them.