Lab values interpretation for "beginners."

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Hello,

My school has not yet recommended a book that will help us interpret diagnostics and laboratory values. I have looked at several lab books on amazon.com and vitalsource.com. Many of them list the lab values and then relate medical conditions with low values and high values. My question is this:

Is there a good book for lab values that give more than these two items (ranges & medical conditions which relate to low and high values)? I am seeking a lab book which is for students / beginners. For example, is there a book in which if there is a particular abnormal value, then it will give us an algorithm as a guide?

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Hello,

My school has not yet recommended a book that will help us interpret diagnostics and laboratory values. I have looked at several lab books on amazon.com and vitalsource.com. Many of them list the lab values and then relate medical conditions with low values and high values. My question is this:

Is there a good book for lab values that give more than these two items (ranges & medical conditions which relate to low and high values)? I am seeking a lab book which is for students / beginners. For example, is there a book in which if there is a particular abnormal value, then it will give us an algorithm as a guide?

Algorithm for what? NP school should tell what an elevated lactate, d-dimer, C-Reactive, ANA or LDH etc all mean.

I just old really understand the question

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I'd recommend these:

Clinician's Guide to Laboratory Medicine by Samir P. Desai

Clinician's Guide to Laboratory Medicine: Pocket: 9780972556187: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com

Lab Values: 63 Must Know Labs for Nurses by Jon Haws

Lab Values: 63 Must Know Labs for Nurses: Jon Haws, Sandra Haws: 9781507704783: Amazon.com: Books

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Algorithm for what? NP school should tell what an elevated lactate, d-dimer, C-Reactive, ANA or LDH etc all mean.

I just old really understand the question

Believe it or not it isn't unusual for NP programs not to have a session on interpreting lab values. Not even the quick and dirty: which are important, what they mean in relation to other lab values etc.

So much for our high standards in NP education. :(

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Algorithm for what? NP school should tell what an elevated lactate, d-dimer, C-Reactive, ANA or LDH etc all mean.

I just old really understand the question

An algorithm on what to do at a certain abnormal lab value. For example, if the hemoglobin is 1 point decreased from the normal range, then usually there's nothing to worry about. But if we have a hemoglobin of 4 on a patient, then intervention should take place. So how do I know at what point should I start an intervention?

Also, the lab items you have described - I have not learned them yet. I am 6 months away from graduation.

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Hello Rocknurse,

Thank your for responding. I did look at both of the books you listed, and found the first one to be very helpful. I have only looked at the description as of now. I was looking for an Ebook version, but it's only available as a hard copy. Anyways, thanks so much for the response. I will look at more sites and see if they have ebook version of that book available. Seem very, very helpful.

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Believe it or not it isn't unusual for NP programs not to have a session on interpreting lab values. Not even the quick and dirty: which are important, what they mean in relation to other lab values etc.

So much for our high standards in NP education. :(

I was telling this to the physician I was working with. I told him that we have not even been told what lab book to use as of now. I feel very incompetent because of this, even though I am a student. I will buy it only my own and learn it on my own. Seems to me that it is one of the basic elements for any provider to be knowledgeable about.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I was telling this to the physician I was working with. I told him that we have not even been told what lab book to use as of now. I feel very incompetent because of this, even though I am a student. I will buy it only my own and learn it on my own. Seems to me that it is one of the basic elements for any provider to be knowledgeable about.

I hear ya and had a friend of mine who is a physician give me a quick low down on labs. It was as embarrassing as heck but he knows how limited our education is and was nice enough to help me. I also bought a lab book and just kept looking stuff up. :(

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An algorithm on what to do at a certain abnormal lab value. For example, if the hemoglobin is 1 point decreased from the normal range, then usually there's nothing to worry about. But if we have a hemoglobin of 4 on a patient, then intervention should take place. So how do I know at what point should I start an intervention?

Also, the lab items you have described - I have not learned them yet. I am 6 months away from graduation.

What?? What school is this?

Sent from my iPhone

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An algorithm on what to do at a certain abnormal lab value. For example, if the hemoglobin is 1 point decreased from the normal range, then usually there's nothing to worry about. But if we have a hemoglobin of 4 on a patient, then intervention should take place. So how do I know at what point should I start an intervention?

Also, the lab items you have described - I have not learned them yet. I am 6 months away from graduation.

What??? And you're 6 months away from graduation.............

Sent from my iPhone

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An algorithm on what to do at a certain abnormal lab value. For example, if the hemoglobin is 1 point decreased from the normal range, then usually there's nothing to worry about. But if we have a hemoglobin of 4 on a patient, then intervention should take place. So how do I know at what point should I start an intervention?

Also, the lab items you have described - I have not learned them yet. I am 6 months away from graduation.

What school do you go to? I am just an RN and know at least the basic interventions for most common labs including the ones I listed. I just don't understand how you could be a provider without being taught what a first year med student or slightly experienced RN knows.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
What school do you go to? I am just an RN and know at least the basic interventions for most common labs including the ones I listed. I just don't understand how you could be a provider without being taught what a first year med student or slightly experienced RN knows.

I bet you would be surprised at the number of NP programs that do not adequately address this issue. Plenty of holistic nursing research courses though.

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