Nursing Clinical Lab Values

Front 1

PTT

Range

Considerations

Back 1

Range: 1.5 to 2 times the pretreatment

Consideration: Used for heparin monitoring.

Prolonged time means taking too long for blood to clot

Front 2

INR/PT

Range

Consideration

Back 2

Range: 2-3

Consideration: Used for Coumadin monitoring

Front 3

Digoxin

Range

Consideration

Back 3

Range: 0.5-2.0 ng/ml

Consideration Toxicity causes blurred vision with yellow/green halos, N/V, irregular heart beat, HYPOKALEMIA (No Lasix)

Front 4

Lithium

Range

Consideration

Back 4

Range: 0.6-1.2 mEq/L

Consideration: Toxicity cause flu-like symptoms which become severe with blurred vision, tinnitus, and seizures.

Front 5

BMI Ranges:

Underweight

Normal weight

Overweight

Obesity

Morbid Obesity

Back 5

Underweight: < 18

Normal weight: 18.5-24.9

Overweight: 25-29.9

Obesity: >30

Morbid Obesity: >40

Front 6

Fast Glucose Reading:

Diagnostic of "Pre-diabetes"

Clinical Significance/Consideration

Back 6

Range: 100-125 mg/dl

Clinical Significance: A 12 hour fast glucose (FGB) reading at this level is DIAGNOSTIC OF PRE-DIABETES, insulin resistance, or glucose intolerance.

It may be component of metabolic syndrome

Front 7

Fast Glucose Reading:

Diagnostic of "Diabetes"

Clinical Significance/Consideration

Back 7

Range: > 126 mg/dl

Clinical Significance: A 12 hour fast glucose (FGB)

reading, on 2 different days at this level is DIAGNOSTIC OF DIABETES

Front 8

BUN

Range

Clinical Significance

Back 8

Range: 6-22 mg/dL

Clinical Significance:

Low: are not common and not usually cause

for concern, but may be severe liver disease,

malnutrition

High: suggestion impaired kidney function

Front 9

Creatinine

Range

Clinical Significance

Back 9

Range:

Female: 0.6-1.2 mg/dl

Male: 0.5-1.1 mg/dl

Clinical significance:

Renal function measure: HIGH VALUES ARE BAD.

May indicate nephropathy, ESRD

Can occur in brittle diabetics also

(Elderly values are lower because of reduced muscle mass)

Front 10

Albumin

Range

Clinical Significance

Back 10

Range: 3.4-5.4 g/dl

Clinical Consideration:

Low: can suggest liver disease, inflammation,

shock, and malnutrition

High: Can be seen with dehydration

Front 11

Potassium

Range

Clinical Significance

Back 11

Range: 3.5-5.0 mEq/L

Clinical Significance:

Low: HYPOKALEMIA

Secondary to:

Vomiting

diahhea

sweating

use of loop diuretic

(eg. Lasix, furosemide)

Note: also at risk for digoxin toxicity

Result: of low K: ventricular arrhythmias

High (HYPERKALEMIA)

Secondary to:

Overuse of K supplements

Renal or endocrine problems

Result: of high K: ventricular arrhythmias,

Asystole.

Front 12

Calcium

Range

Clinical Significance

Back 12

Range: 8.2-10.2 mg/dL

Clinical Significance:

Low: (HYPOCALCEMIA):

Secondary to:

Abuse of laxative

Renal failure

low dietary calcium or vitamin D intake

Excessive magnesium intake

Result of low Ca: Osteoporosis, muscle spasm/tetany, calcium deposits in tissue, cardiac arrhythmia, astystole

High (HYPERKALEMIA):

Secondary to:

Immobilization

Metastatic Bone CA

Overuse of antacids containing Ca+

Result of high Ca+: Thirst, polyuria, renal stones, decreased muscle tone and DTRs, tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmia, asystole

Front 13

Sodium

Range

Clinical Significance

Back 13

Range: 136-145mEq/L

Clinical Significance:

Low: (HYPONATREMIA):

Secondary:

Fluid loss: diarrhea, vomiting, diaphoresis,

diuretic

Result of low Na+: postural hypotension, abdominal cramps, headache, fatigue, weakness

High (HYPERNATREMIA):

Secondary to:

Dehydration

High salt intake

Poor renal function

Result: of high Na+: edema, tachycardia

Front 14

Platelets/Thrombocytes
Ranges
Clinical Significance

Back 14

Ranges: 200,000 to 500,000/mm3
Clinical Significance:

Chemotherapy:
30,000 to 50,000: avoid resisted exercise,
Risk for hemorrhage, ambulation OK

<30,000: bedside, gentle AROM
<20,000: consult with physician before ac
tivity.

Front 15

Total WBC Count

Ranges

Clinical Significance

Back 15

Ranges: 5,000-10,000/mm3
Clinical Significance:

>10,000 indicate systemic infection/inflammation

If low: autoimmune, bone marrow issue, cancer.

Chemotherapy:
<5,000: use reverse isolation, see patient in room, careful hygiene, hold aerobic exercise.

Front 16

'Sed Rate'

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)

Ranges

Clinical Significance

Back 16

Ranges:
Female: 1-25mm/hr
Male: 0-17 mm/hr
Clinical Significance:
Bad if elevated
Used to diagnose, or follow the course of inflammatory disease (ex. RA)

Front 17

RBC Count

Ranges

Clinical Significance

Back 17

Ranges
Female: 4-5.5 million/mm3
Male: 4.5-6.2 million/mm3
Clinical Significance
Low values:
Anemia: monitor for fatigue, dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea

High values: In COPD: may indicate polycythemia, a compensation for pulmonary dysfunction that makes blood thicker, and increase the risk for CVA, etc.

Front 18

Hemoglobin (Hgb)

Ranges

Clinical Significance

Back 18

Ranges
Female:12-16 g/dl
Male: 14-18 g/dl
Clinical Significance
Low values: Anemia: monitor for fatigue, dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea

Front 19

Hetamtocrit (Hct)

Ranges

Clinical Significance

Back 19

Ranges
Female: 36-46%
Male: 42-52%
Clinical Significance
Low values: Anemia: monitor for fatigue, dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea

Front 20

Arterial Blood Gases (ABG)

Ranges

Back 20

Ranges:

PaO2=80-100mm Hg

PaCO2=35-45 mm Hg

Ph-7.35-7.45

HCO3=22-26mEq/L

SaO2=95-99%