Lab values

[nicole anne, BSN, RN]

Quick question: I feel I'm struggling in understanding labs values -interpreting what they mean, which are most important to report to doctors, etc. I find it to be hard to remember/memorize it all and recently had a doctor get short with me because I reported something I felt was important but he did not. It made me feel so dumb! [emoji15]

I really want to improve on this and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for books or websites or other ways to sharpen my skills and knowledge when it comes to labs.

Thanks!!

[bossman]

Which lab reports are you struggling with? This is really a broad topic and some context would help. I am not sure that a simple book or resources would be helpful. Take even hemoglobin for example. A Hgb of 8 may be reportable if their last Hgb was 12. If they have always been 8 then it is not. I know you want the simple if a lab test is X then report it but it isn't as simple as that.

[momathoner09, BSN, MSN, APRN]

I always look at h/h & platelets first to see if they are low. If they are, I ask to order a type and screen and if they want blood and/or platelets ordered or on hold.

For renal patients I look at K+, BUN & creatinine. I also look up the last time they went to dialysis. I always report high K+ as that could impact surgery.

Diabetics (usually renal too) I look at glucose if it was ordered in a BMP. I report below 70. I don't usually get a lot of high glucose Bc my patients are NPO.

What type of patients are you working with? Can you ask co-workers for some guidance regarding specify doctors that you work with?

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Every patient is different and what may be a significant lab value for one isn't for the other. A Hgb of 8 may be a big deal in a post-op abdominal surgery but not in an Oncology patient at his nadir. We don't even transfuse our Oncology patients unless Hgb is

[momathoner09, BSN, MSN, APRN]

Every patient is different and what may be a significant lab value for one isn't for the other. A Hgb of 8 may be a big deal in a post-op abdominal surgery but not in an Oncology patient at his nadir. We don't even transfuse our Oncology patients unless Hgb is

I agree. You have to look at trending and past values over this hospital stay. It took me awhile to figure out what was reportable and what wasn't. I would ask the nurses I worked with first before contacting the surgeon's PA or NP. If no one else is around though or if I am unsure, than I always report it. I got in trouble one time for not reporting low platelets that I missed before surgery that they needed ordered day of. I think you have to think of the whole disease process and what the patient is being treated for.

[OscarTheOwl]

Definitely look at the trends, do you carry a clip board? I had to write the common lab normal values down on my clipboard to get used to them. There's some that you'll never know, just have a resource that is close by that you can refer to.

Also think about lab values that the doctor will likely want to correct. If the k

Think about what you are calling the doc for, anticipate the orders you want to correct what ever is going on and report the labs that will get you what you need to help the patient.