Fluid & Electrolyte / Acid-Base Balance

Fluid volume excess presents with edema, weight gain, crackles, and jugular venous distension; fluid volume deficit presents with poor skin turgor, dry mucous membranes, tachycardia, and concentrated urine. For acid-base, use the ROME mnemonic (Respiratory Opposite, Metabolic Equal) — in respiratory disorders, pH and CO2 move in opposite directions (respiratory acidosis: low pH, high CO2); in metabolic disorders, pH and bicarbonate move in the same direction (metabolic acidosis: low pH, low bicarbonate).