Nursing: Lab Values

a QuickStudy Laminated Reference Guide

Henry, Julie Henry

• Publisher: QuickStudy Reference Guides
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN:
  9781423233206
• eBook ISBN:
  9781423237624
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Medical Theory, Practice & Reference

The most important lab values for nurses to know in a handy 6 page laminated reference guide. Get this guide when you start nursing school and review it often. By the time you take the NCLEX, they will be committed to memory. Lamination means it will last the lifetime of your career. Paper-thin, so you can keep it with your clipboard or at the nurses’ station for referencing a value faster than using the Internet. This is one of the most inexpensive and valuable tools you will find to help you in nursing school, prepping for the NCLEX, or starting your career.
6-page laminated guide includes:

• Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
• Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
• Blood Culture
• Cardiac Enzyme Markers
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)
• Coagulation Screen
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) & Differential
• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
• Fecal Occult Blood
• Glucose Tests
• Kidney Function
• Factors That Might Affect Laboratory Values
• Lipid Profile
• Liver Functions Tests (LFTs or LFs)
• Medication Levels (Therapeutic & Toxic)
• Serology
• Serum Total Protein
• Thyroid Tests
• Urine Tests
• Blood Collection Methods
• Arterial Blood Draw
• Venous Blood Draw
• Central Blood Line
• Port Blood Draw
• Urine & Fecal Collection Methods

Suggested uses:

• Quick Reference – instead of digging into a large book to find a core answer you need while studying, use the guide to reinforce quickly and repeatedly
• Memory – refreshing your memory repeatedly is a foundation of studying, have the core labs handy so you can focus on the larger picture
• NCLEX Test Prep & Exams – review frequently and right before exams and the NCLEX for that extra boost

Laboratory Tests

Arterial Blood Gas (Abg)

Determines the concentrations of gases; involves puncturing an artery with a thin needle and syringe, and then drawing a small volume of blood.

NORMAL VALUES AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

PARTIAL PRESSURE OF OXYGEN (PaO₂) NR: 80–100 mmHg H: Hypoxia or hypoxemia, asthma, COPD, pain medications, anemia, heart problems L: Anemia, bronchospasm, atelectasis, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, cardiac decompensation

PARTIAL PRESSURE OF CARBON DIOXIDE (PaCO₂) NR: 35–45 mmHg H: COPD, pulmonary edema, head trauma, oversedation L: Panic attack, hyperventilation, pain, pulmonary embolism, hypoxemia

pH NR: 7.35–7.45 H: Alkalosis, fever, hypoxemia, heart failure, hypokalemia, shock, pulmonary embolism, prolonged vomiting, anxiety, hyperventilation L: Acidosis, uncontrolled diabetes, overuse of sedatives, kidney disease, COPD, severe dehydration, asthma, sleep apnea, pneumonia

BICARBONATE (HCO₃^–) NR: 22–26 mEq/L H: Respiratory acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, anoxia L: Respiratory alkalosis, metabolic acidosis

OXYGEN SATURATION (O₂Sat) NR: 95%–100% H: Hyperventilation, polycythemia L: Anemia, COPD, heart disease, atelectasis, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema

Basic Metabolic Panel (Bmp)

Blood chemical tests. See Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

NORMAL VALUES AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

SODIUM (Na⁺) NR: 135–145 mEq/L H: CHF, dehydration, diabetes, diaphoresis, diarrhea, hypertension, ostomies, toxemia, vomiting L: GI malabsorption, diarrhea, ascites in cardiac failure, bowel obstruction, burns, cirrhosis, emphysema

POTASSIUM (K⁺) NR: 3.5–5.5 mEq/L H: Acidosis, adrenocortical insufficiency, anemia, anxiety, asthma, burns, dialysis, dysrhythmias, hypoventilation L: Vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal fistulas, ATN, alcoholism, alkalosis, bradycardia, colon cancer, chronic cirrhosis, CHF, Crohn’s disease, diuretics

CHLORIDE (Cl^–) NR: 96–108 mEq/L H: Alcoholism, respiratory alkalosis, anemia, CHF, dehydration, fever, head trauma, respiratory alkalosis L: Metabolic alkalosis, burns, CNS disorders, edema, emphysema, GI loss

CALCIUM (Ca⁺) NR: 8.4–10.2 mg/dL H: Respiratory acidosis, ATN, bacteremia, chronic hepatic disease L: GI malabsorption, alkalosis, burns, cachexia, celiac disease, chronic renal disease, diarrhea

GLUCOSE NR: 70–100 mg/dL (fasting) H: Prediabetes, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis L: Hypopituitarism, hypothyroidism, malnutrition, insulin overdose

CREATININE NR: 0.6–1.3 mg/dL H: Acute tubular necrosis, dehydration, diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, kidney failure, muscular dystrophy, preeclampsia, pyelonephritis, shock, CHF, rhabdomyolysis, urinary tract obstruction L: Muscular dystrophy (late stage), myasthenia gravis

BICARBONATE (HCO₃^–) NR: 22–29 mEq/L H: Vomiting, dehydration, blood transfusions, antacids overdose, COPD, pulmonary edema, heart disease, Cushing’s disease L: Hyperventilation, aspirin overdose, alcohol overdose, diarrhea, dehydration, malnutrition, liver disease, kidney disease, heart attack, hyperthyroidism, uncontrolled diabetes

BLOOD UREA NITROGEN (BUN) NR: 6–20 mg/dL H: CHF, excessive protein in the GI tract, GI bleeding, hypovolemia, heart attack, kidney disease, kidney failure, shock, urinary tract obstruction L: Liver failure, low-protein diet, malnutrition, over-hydration

Blood Culture

• Checks for bacteria or other microorganisms in a blood sample. (Most cultures check for bacteria.) A minimum of 10 mL of blood is taken through venipuncture and injected into two or more “blood bottles” with specific media for aerobic and anaerobic organisms.
• Normal values and clinical significance
  • Negative results indicate that no bacteria or other microorganisms were found in the blood.
  • Positive results indicate that bacteria or another microorganism was found in the blood.
  • Following positive results, a sensitivity test is done to see which antibiotic can best get rid of the bacteria.

Cardiac Enzyme Markers

Determines whether there is injury to the heart muscle.

NORMAL VALUES AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

TROPONIN L (Tnl) NR: < 0.35 μg/L AR: Heart attack, tachycardia, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, congestive heart failure (CHF), myocarditis, heart trauma, cardiomyopathy, kidney disease

TROPONIN T (TnT) NR: < 0.2 μg/L AR: Heart attack, tachycardia, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, CHF, myocarditis, heart trauma, cardiomyopathy, kidney disease

CREATINE KINASE (CK) NR: Males: < 7.7 μg/L; Females: < 4.3 μg/L AR: Heart attack, heart surgery, heart trauma, ischemia, kidney failure CK-MB NR: 0–3 μg/L AR: Heart attack, heart surgery, heart trauma, ischemia, kidney failure

AST/SGOT NR: 10–35 U/L AR: Heart attack, cirrhosis, hepatitis, liver cancer, acute pancreatitis, kidney failure, mononucleosis

LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE (LDH) NR: 105–333 IU/L AR: Ischemia, heart attack, anemia, mononucleosis, liver disease, hypotension, muscle injury, muscular dystrophy, cance...

Table of contents

• Laboratory Tests
• Factors That Might Affect Laboratory Values
• Blood Collection Methods
• Urine & Fecal Collection Methods