Lab Interpretation

Advanced Practice Columnist / Guide · Feb 23, 2011

I am not sure if going to a class on lab interpretation is really going to help. What you probably need is knowing what information is available at your fingertips at the point of care. Many providers use multiple internet-based sources in combination with a good pocket resource (electronic or print). I would suggest, as this is what we typically use in our acute care setting, is a combination of UpToDate, Pubmed, and any of the available diagnostic app's on a smartphone. Uptodate is good as far as general topics you encounter everyday but would not be as useful in exotic cases so a literature search through Pubmed would be your next step if Uptodate does not yield what you're looking for. A good diagnostics app in your smartphone would be ideal for simple searches.

TX RN · Feb 25, 2011

+1 to what JDLC said. ^^^^

Epocrates is your friend.

allnurses Guide · Feb 25, 2011

I worked for 20+ years as a laboratory technologist, but I still need a reference from time to time. I use the MDezLabs app on my iPhone. It's free! SOme of my colleagues use Mosby's manual of Lab and Diagnostic tests. It's a big, thick book, but a good reference.

carachel2 · Feb 25, 2011

All of the references mentioned above are great for looking up values, etc. I would also recommend that you LEARN the meaning and significance of those lab values. Fitzgerald has a few online courses you can download and learn on your own time.

I, too felt like school did not really help me in this area.

Dixiecup · Feb 25, 2011

Thanks for the replies. I DO research until I find my answer. I just wish I was at the point to where I could just look at the lab results and kind of know what to do without all the research! I guess that just comes with time.

maomao · Mar 8, 2011

Do you have a link to the online reviews? I couldn't find it from the website.