I'm embarrassed to admit this....

[Sleepyeyes]

but i really suck at interpreting LAB WORK. I really believe I must've been out sick when this class was discussed at school.

I know my K levels, WBC's and H&H's...

but with the others-- I'm discovering a real knowledge deficit.

Any tidbits you labwork geniuses want to pass on to me?

[MelRN13]

I had an instructor who had an excellent handout on ABG's. If you would like it, PM me, and I will try to find it and scan it for anyone who would like to use it for a refresher.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Originally posted by Sleepyeyes

--and BTW, 3rdshift, I kinda worry about assessing neuro status on 11-7 shift (we're a stroke unit too) because, well, how do you really see a subtle change in neuro status when someone's groggy from sleep?

Yep, neuro can be worrisome. A couple of times, the MD has come in the morning to assess a patient and found changes, making the nurse look real bad on 11-7. We usually did assessments at midnight and 4AM on the floor, and q2h in intermediate. But those subtle changes are tough.

[mario_ragucci]

Sleepyeyes - what helps me is to have a small version of the Periodic Table Of Elements on my med book, and soon to be on my clipboard. When I see it I can think of the many factors that can influence matter composition, and can imagine their size and affinities based on the (electron) shells. Molecules (WBC, RBC, BUN, serum) are arranged in patterns. You know :-) Just seeing that chart causes me to think about how more or less of an atom or molecule can effect the entire picture, and how neat it is that we can measure these amounts in us via a lab. Wow!