Learning labs/faster with reading lab reports

Specialties Med-Surg

Published

This is my next area I want to improve on. I use EPIC and labs are flagged when they come in. Most the time I glance at them and I swear I just can't seem to remember much from school about labs. Other than Hemoglobin and Hematocrit I wind up just kind of looking at them and thinking now what? I can't seem to apply what I need to know about current lab results to patient care and which labs are pertinent to pass on in report. I know norms and abnorms, but I've forgotten some of them. I could really use some good books/websites to improve on this or tips on how to apply this to care.

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What I've had to do with labs, and other patho/A&P type stuff, is study on my off time. I've gone through my nursing school books, researched online, and even made notes and flashcards just like I did in school. Each time I come across a patient with something interesting or something I am not familiar with I go home and study about it. It would be nice to do this during my shift but it's not realistic to have that kind of free time.

There is a website I found somewhere here on AN called icufaqs.org. While some of the info only pertains to ICU a lot of it is applicable to my Med-surg/Oncology floor. There is a section specific to labs that is very helpful.

On my brain sheet I made a diagram for fishbone labs, or skeleton labs as I've seen it called, and I forced myself to memorize it and write it out on each patient until it became second nature.

Don't just look at the most current lab result but try to look at the trend. Are they going up...down? If the WBC is elevated at 18, note if it's down from 24 or if it's up from 9. That will dictate your next move. For me it's a daily process to put the big picture together and I believe it just takes time and effort. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
What I've had to do with labs, and other patho/A&P type stuff, is study on my off time. I've gone through my nursing school books, researched online, and even made notes and flashcards just like I did in school. Each time I come across a patient with something interesting or something I am not familiar with I go home and study about it. It would be nice to do this during my shift but it's not realistic to have that kind of free time.

There is a website I found somewhere here on AN called icufaqs.org. While some of the info only pertains to ICU a lot of it is applicable to my Med-surg/Oncology floor. There is a section specific to labs that is very helpful.

On my brain sheet I made a diagram for fishbone labs, or skeleton labs as I've seen it called, and I forced myself to memorize it and write it out on each patient until it became second nature.

Don't just look at the most current lab result but try to look at the trend. Are they going up...down? If the WBC is elevated at 18, note if it's down from 24 or if it's up from 9. That will dictate your next move. For me it's a daily process to put the big picture together and I believe it just takes time and effort. Good luck!

I kind of decided after I posted this that I would start doing a mini case study type project with my patients on my days off. I figure I can work on a couple labs at a time until I can start really putting together what the lab values mean as far as care.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Labs you want to pass on in report:

Abnormal WBCs, Electrolytes (Sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, calcium/phosphorus (if checked), H&H that is in transfusable range (

Plus - any changes/improvements.

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