Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
General Nursing Student Discussions /

Help with Lab results



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,862 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Jun 28, 2009 05:38 PM

Help with Lab results

by mom25

I started this clinicals and need help with the lab results. I was wondering if anyone had a book that might tell me not only what the norms are but what it might mean if the results were elevated or low. I am really struggling on what each out of range lab value might equate. Thanks so much for any advice!


Share

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Reply
8 Comments
No. 1
from ghillbert
Old Jun 28, 2009, 05:51 PM

Default Re: Help with Lab results
The normals depend upon your hospital's lab. You can google for general ranges. What labs are you asking about, specifically?
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 2
from mom25
Old Jun 28, 2009, 05:58 PM

Default Re: Help with Lab results
I was trying (ie struggling) with my Functional Health Patterns and I wanted a book or quick reference that allowed me to get an idea of what a high CBC values or BUN or Creatinine would mean in the long run to the patient. I can figure out what the lab result is within range but that doesn't really tell me what exactly that tests for and what the number might mean for the patient. I guess in a round about way I need Lab tests for dummies or something along that line.
Top
 
No. 3
from Daytonite
Old Jun 28, 2009, 10:48 PM

See these websites:
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 4
from AugustRain
Old Jun 29, 2009, 12:14 AM

Default Re: Help with Lab results
Have you looked in the appendix of your med surg text? Mine has a chart with a column for normal lab values, along with columns for what the highs and lows may indicate.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 5
from I'mANurse!
Old Jun 29, 2009, 12:25 AM

Default Re: Help with Lab results
Mosby's Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests by Pagana.

Awesome book. Info about every type of lab and diagnostic test, from procedure, normals, significance of abnormal values!
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 6
Old Jun 29, 2009, 06:57 AM

Default Re: Help with Lab results
Originally Posted by AugustRain View Post
Have you looked in the appendix of your med surg text? Mine has a chart with a column for normal lab values, along with columns for what the highs and lows may indicate.
Mine has this. I've got Lewis's Medical-Surgical Nursing by Brown & Edwards
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
No. 7
from mom25
Old Jun 29, 2009, 07:46 AM

Default Re: Help with Lab results
Thank you so very much! As you can tell I am suffering from a huge lack of sleep by reading my first post. I am in my first month of clinicals and I am feeling so out of sorts. I will check a med surg book that I got at a yard sale and see if it is in there, if not I will get the Mosby book you recommended. Thanks so much!

Daytonite thank you for the web sites, they will come in super handy. You guys are the BEST!!
Top
 
No. 8
from NeoNurseTX
Old Jul 01, 2009, 12:46 AM

Default Re: Help with Lab results
labtestsonline is a good quick reference but if you want a book with nursing implications, they do make them.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
279 members
2,286 guests
2,565

5

James Woods, Actor Sues Hospital, Warwick, RI

1

16 fired for HIPAA Violations

6

Four Lehigh Valley Health Network nurses accused of...

50

lawsuit - But don't most RN's work through breaks/lunch...

0

Patient Evaluation of Retail Clinic Care

7

The hard to reach on-call doctor, and its effects on...

12

Woman charged with passing off prescription drug as...

29

Man in "Vegetative State" was conscious for 23...

2

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model

14

Possible breakthrough regarding MS



47

Dear preceptor

1

Society Needs Care Too

13

Why am I doing this, anyway?

2

Nurse Heal Thyself

10

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

17

I made it through

11

An angel's gaze

16

A Sister Never Forgets

16

Ruby's Marbles

43

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

14

My Little Old Jedi

21

I love this job......

23

"I hear voices"

20

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

24

Error and Attitude





Sponsored Links

Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: