Nursing Lab Values PDF

What are nursing lab values?

Nursing lab values are measurements obtained from blood tests and other laboratory tests to assess a patient's health status. These values provide critical insights into physiological conditions, guiding healthcare practitioners in diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring (Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences, 2022). Key examples include complete blood count (CBC), which evaluates red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, and tests like blood urea nitrogen (BUN) for kidney function. These values are expressed in units such as mg/dL and are compared against a normal range to determine whether they fall within expected limits.

Abnormal lab values may indicate underlying health issues, such as kidney dysfunction, liver disease, or infections. For example, elevated BUN or low hemoglobin in a CBC may signify disease progression. Understanding normal laboratory values helps nurses identify patterns and anomalies, aiding in early intervention.

NCLEX lab values are a critical component of nursing education and licensure preparation. These values guide nurses in interpreting diagnostic results, identifying abnormalities, and recognizing potential life-threatening conditions. Mastery of lab values ensures nurses can monitor treatment efficacy, adjust care plans as needed, and make sound clinical decisions. Understanding normal and abnormal lab ranges is essential for ensuring patient safety and delivering optimal outcomes in diverse healthcare settings.

Common lab values

Nursing professionals use common lab values to evaluate patients' health, diagnose conditions, and guide treatment plans. These values are essential for accurate clinical decision-making. Below are the primary categories of lab values used in laboratory tests and their significance (Gaines, 2023):

Complete blood count (CBC)

A CBC blood test evaluates blood components, including red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. It helps detect conditions like anemia (if corpuscular hemoglobin concentration is above or below normal range), infections, and clotting disorders. RBC levels assess oxygen transport, while WBC counts monitor immune response. Hemoglobin and hematocrit reflect blood volume, and platelet counts assess clotting ability.

Basic metabolic panel (BMP)

The BMP includes measurements such as glucose (70-100 mg/dL), sodium (135-145 mEq/L), and potassium (3.5-5.0 mEq/L). These values monitor essential functions like blood sugar control, fluid balance, and cardiac health. Other tests, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, assess kidney efficiency, renal failure, and metabolic waste removal.

Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)

A CMP expands on the BMP by including liver-related values such as ALT (7-56 U/L), AST (8-33 U/L), and bilirubin (0.1-1.2 mg/dL). These tests help diagnose liver disease, monitor overall health, and assess protein levels like albumin and total protein, which indicate nutritional and liver status.

Arterial blood gas (ABG)

ABG measures blood pH (7.35-7.45), PaO2 (75-100 mmHg), PaCO2 (35-45 mmHg), and bicarbonate levels. These values assess respiratory and metabolic function. They are critical in identifying acid-base imbalances, oxygenation issues, and CO2 retention, especially in critically ill patients.

Lipid panel

A lipid panel evaluates cardiovascular health by measuring total cholesterol (<200 mg/dL), LDL (<100 mg/dL), HDL (40-60 mg/dL), and triglycerides (<150 mg/dL). These values help identify risks for heart disease and guide interventions for lowering "bad cholesterol" (LDL) and boosting "good cholesterol" (HDL).

Liver function tests (LFTs)

LFTs include ALT, AST, and bilirubin tests to assess liver health and detect damage. Elevated values may indicate liver disease, bile duct obstruction, or inflammation. These tests are often ordered to monitor chronic liver conditions or assess the impact of medications on liver function.

Hemoglobin A1C

The Hemoglobin A1C is a lab test that measures average blood sugar levels over three months. Values below 5.7% are normal, 5.7%-6.4% indicates prediabetes and ≥6.5% confirms diabetes. This test is critical in diagnosing and managing diabetes, offering insights into long-term glucose control.

Drug therapeutic levels

Drug level monitoring ensures medications like digoxin (0.5-2 ng/mL) and phenytoin (10-20 mcg/mL) are within safe therapeutic ranges. These values help prevent toxicity and ensure efficacy for conditions like heart rate control, epilepsy, and bipolar disorder.

Coagulation studies

Coagulation studies, including PT (11-13.5 seconds) and INR (0.8-1.1), measure clotting ability. Abnormal values may indicate clotting disorders, liver dysfunction, or the need to adjust anticoagulant therapy. These tests are essential for monitoring bleeding risks and managing anticoagulant medications.

How does our Nursing Lab Values PDF work?

Carepatron's cheat sheet template streamlines the process of documenting and interpreting critical lab values. By following these simple steps, medical professionals can efficiently integrate this tool into their clinical workflows, ensuring accurate and organized patient care.

Step 1: Access and use the Nursing Lab Values PDF template

Click the "Use template" button in the Carepatron app to open the resource. You can fill it out directly or customize it to suit specific needs. Once completed, save it digitally or print a copy for records.

Step 2: Use the appropriate keywords or clinical terms

Ensure accuracy using clinical terms and keywords relevant to lab values, such as "complete blood count" or "blood urea nitrogen." This ensures clear communication across healthcare teams and aligns documentation with professional standards.

Step 3: Integrate into the workflow

Medical professionals can use the template by using it during patient assessments or case reviews. Regular use enhances efficiency, simplifies record-keeping, and improves collaboration by providing standardized documentation for lab value interpretation.

Benefits of using this template

Carepatron's Nursing Lab Values PDF template streamlines the documentation and interpretation of critical lab tests for medical professionals, ensuring accurate assessment and efficient workflow. By consolidating normal values and normal ranges for key markers such as activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and international normalized ratio (INR), the template enhances decision-making related to blood clotting and coagulation.

Moreover, it also helps identify abnormalities, such as vitamin K deficiency or elevated carbon dioxide levels affecting the respiratory system. This resource standardizes documentation, enabling clear communication among healthcare teams. Focusing on blood tests, the template ensures that values stay within normal limits, providing actionable insights for clinical care.

References

Gaines, K. (2023, April 26). Lab values nursing students need to know for the NCLEX. Nurse.org. https://nurse.org/education/lab-values-nclex/

Joyce University of Nursing and Health Sciences. (2022, April 6). Normal lab values every nurse should know. https://www.joyce.edu/blog/nclex-lab-values/