Lab values

papawjohn · Jul 4, 2006

Hey Maryln!!!

Hardly any of us have a vast encyclopedia in our heads with the norms and the effects & treatments for all the labs you'll see ordered. So relax and do not spend hours memorizing them. An example: I always have to look for the normal ranges of things like T4 and TSH and AST and so on. But many nurses who (for example) work with liver-transplantation could rattle all the liver enzymes off and tell you lots and lots about what they mean and what to do about 'em.

If I was precepting a baby-nurse and they knew the Chem 7 and Magnesium and the 4 basic numbers for a CBC (WBC-Hgb-Hct-Platelets)--I'd think that was being VERY well prepared. And if they had a 3 by 5 card that they pulled out to check on--I'd STILL think they were well prepared.

Hope that helps

Papaw John

shock-me-sane · Jul 5, 2006

unfortunately the values are not standard. check your book to see what ranges you'll be expected to know. they will also vary in the hospital you will be doing clinicals at.

but off the top of my head it would be beneficial to learn, K+, Ca, Mg, Cl, Na, albhemoglobin, hematocrit, WBC, creatinine, BUN, therapeudic INR/PT/PTT, specific gravity, ABG's, cholesterol, TSH.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jul 5, 2006

Thanks. I had no idea lab values were not standard and would vary btwn hospitals and such. I also didn't realize there were so many of them! LOL I'll worry about it later. I plan to get a clipboard with a piece of paper taped on the front an keep all the important info on their anyways.

truern · Jul 5, 2006

While they do vary from facility to facility, its important to have a grasp of the basic values for potassium, sodium, etc. They will show up on NCLEX!! Not specific questions about them, but implied knowledge of them to determine correct answers.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jul 5, 2006

While they do vary from facility to facility, its important to have a grasp of the basic values for potassium, sodium, etc. They will show up on NCLEX!! Not specific questions about them, but implied knowledge of them to determine correct answers.

That is kinda what I was looking for I guess, if there were some basic values I could at least start to get familiar with now.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jul 5, 2006

marilynmom. . .the basic and most commonly ordered lab tests are electrolytes, cbc, urinalysis and i'd start with those. there are also popular "panels" such as the chem 7, coag panel, liver panel and a few others. you are looking to learn the normal ranges. there is not that much variation in the ranges that each hospital calls "normal".

the electrolytes are potassium, sodium, chloride and carbon dioxide. a bun (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine are often ordered as well. fasting blood sugar (serum glucose) is also very commonly ordered. there is a much more extensive chemistry panel that can be ordered.

this site from webmd has a list of links to information on all kinds of medical tests

http://www.webmd.com/a_to_z_guide/medical_tests.htm you might want to bookmark this. you have to look up the individual tests within the electrolyte panel at this site, but it will give you normal ranges. here is their page for the cbc (complete blood count)

http://www.webmd.com/hw/lab_tests/hw4260.asp

http://www.labtestsonline.org/ will also give you information about a lab test and what is included in lab panels, but not usually the normal ranges. they have information on the most commonly performed lab tests.

i would strongly recommend that if you can afford it, that you buy some sort of a reference handbook of laboratory and diagnostic tests. i have one that was published by mosby and it is a bit older, published in 1999. it includes blood tests, endoscopies, nuclear scans, ultrasound, x-rays, and lots of other things such as oximetry, pulmonary function tests, eegs, ekg, lumbar puncture, amniocentesis and many more. it's just one of those reference books that i find that i need to have around. it tells you what the tests are, why they might be ordered, preparation for them, normal findings, patient care and complications.

indigo girl · Jul 5, 2006

unfortunately the values are not standard. check your book to see what ranges you'll be expected to know. they will also vary in the hospital you will be doing clinicals at.
but off the top of my head it would be beneficial to learn, K+, Ca, Mg, Cl, Na, albhemoglobin, hematocrit, WBC, creatinine, BUN, therapeudic INR/PT/PTT, specific gravity, ABG's, cholesterol, TSH.

I would include therapeutic ranges for dilantin and digoxin levels also.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jul 5, 2006

marilynmom. . .the basic and most commonly ordered lab tests are electrolytes, cbc, urinalysis and i'd start with those. there are also popular "panels" such as the chem 7, coag panel, liver panel and a few others. you are looking to learn the normal ranges. there is not that much variation in the ranges that each hospital calls "normal".
the electrolytes are potassium, sodium, chloride and carbon dioxide. a bun (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine are often ordered as well. fasting blood sugar (serum glucose) is also very commonly ordered. there is a much more extensive chemistry panel that can be ordered.
this site from webmd has a list of links to information on all kinds of medical tests
http://www.webmd.com/a_to_z_guide/medical_tests.htm you might want to bookmark this. you have to look up the individual tests within the electrolyte panel at this site, but it will give you normal ranges. here is their page for the cbc (complete blood count)
http://www.webmd.com/hw/lab_tests/hw4260.asp
http://www.labtestsonline.org/ will also give you information about a lab test and what is included in lab panels, but not usually the normal ranges. they have information on the most commonly performed lab tests.
i would strongly recommend that if you can afford it, that you buy some sort of a reference handbook of laboratory and diagnostic tests. i have one that was published by mosby and it is a bit older, published in 1999. it includes blood tests, endoscopies, nuclear scans, ultrasound, x-rays, and lots of other things such as oximetry, pulmonary function tests, eegs, ekg, lumbar puncture, amniocentesis and many more. it's just one of those reference books that i find that i need to have around. it tells you what the tests are, why they might be ordered, preparation for them, normal findings, patient care and complications.

thanks! perfect :)

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 5, 2006

Thanks. I had no idea lab values were not standard and would vary btwn hospitals and such. I also didn't realize there were so many of them! LOL I'll worry about it later. I plan to get a clipboard with a piece of paper taped on the front an keep all the important info on their anyways.

Hi there! One thing to keep in mind is you probably shouldn't plan to buy a THING (in the way of equipment, that is, not refernce books) until you've had orientation of some type. Or until they tell you what to bring (what you can bring) to clinical, etc. Lots of times people buy all kinds of "recommended" stuff, only to have their own school nix it.

Everyone here has lots of opinions on what the "right" kind of whatever is (myself included, lol!) but I would seriously not even buy a clipboard until you know what your school allows. Some are fine with any kind of clipboard you like, including the box-type ones that you can store things inside, and others won't let you carry in anything that can't be put into a labcoat or uniform pocket. Me, I had all of the above: depending on the clinical rotation I was on, I couldn't use one or more of the things that were ok with other instructors.

Just trying to save you $ :)

Boston-RN, RN · Jul 5, 2006

I have a cheat sheet I made for when I was in clinicals with the lab values, critical values and diseases associated w/ the deviations......PM me your email address and I'll forward it to you....

LanaBanana · Jul 5, 2006

Hi there! One thing to keep in mind is you probably shouldn't plan to buy a THING (in the way of equipment, that is, not refernce books) until you've had orientation of some type. Or until they tell you what to bring (what you can bring) to clinical, etc. Lots of times people buy all kinds of "recommended" stuff, only to have their own school nix it.
Everyone here has lots of opinions on what the "right" kind of whatever is (myself included, lol!) but I would seriously not even buy a clipboard until you know what your school allows. Some are fine with any kind of clipboard you like, including the box-type ones that you can store things inside, and others won't let you carry in anything that can't be put into a labcoat or uniform pocket. Me, I had all of the above: depending on the clinical rotation I was on, I couldn't use one or more of the things that were ok with other instructors.
Just trying to save you $ :)

Don't most schools allow you to have those RN or LPN Notes books that fit in your pocket? I got the LPN Notes and it has a whole section of lab values. I'm also planning to get some of that on my PDA, but this little book seems pretty handy.