Lab values Flashcards
Serum creatinine
Normal range 0.6 - 1.2
What does serum creatinine indicate?
Kidney function
INR
Therapeutic range 2 - 3
What does INR measure?
Coumadin level
The critical level of INR is?
Greater than 4 (high priority)
Potassium (K+)
Normal range 3.5 - 5.3
What are critical ranges of K+?
Less than 3.5 or higher than 5.3
Low give potassium
High give D5W and reg insulin & kayexalate
Potassium greater than or equal to 6 is?Critical or Deadly
Deadly! Medical emergency
Assess pt
Give D5W and reg insulin & kayexalate
Call doctor stat!
pH
Normal range 7.35 - 7.45
pH below 6 is? Critical or Deadly
Deadly! Medical emergency
Assess pt
Call doctor stat!
BUN
Normal range 8 - 25
“Hamburger BUN’s come in packages of 8, therefore BUN levels are 8 - 25.”
What does elevated BUN level mean?
Dehydration
If you get an elevated blood value what answer should you pick?
Dehydration
Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Normal range 12 - 18
Bicarb
Normal range 22 - 26
“2 + 2 + 2 = 6”
CO2
Normal range 35 - 45
Hemoglobin less then 8 is? Critical or Deadly
Critical level!
Assess for bleeding
Prepare to give blood
Call doctor
What is the order of operation for when dealing with abnormal lab values?
- Hold
- Assess
- Prepare
- Call
CO2 in the 50 range is considered what?Critical or Deadly
Critical!
Assess respirations
Prepare pt for pursed lip breathing
CO2 in the 60 range is considered what? Critical or Deadly
Deadly! **Respiratory emergency** Assess respirations Prepare pt for intubation and ventilate Call respiratory therapy first Then call doctor
Hematocrit
Normal range 36 - 54
***“Easy way to remember is the range is the same as three times the range of hemoglobin… (12 x 3 = 36 & 18 x 3 = 54).”
Elevated hematocrit indicates what?
Dehydration
Oxygen (PO2)
Normal range 78 - 100
Oxygen range of 70 - 77 is what? Critical or Deadly
Low…Critical!
Assess pt respiration
Prepare to give O2
When a pt is hypoxic what vital sign is elevated first, respiration or HR?
HR
Oxygen range below 70 is considered what? Critical or Deadly
Deadly! **Respiratory emergency** Assess respirations and give O2 Prepare pt for intubation and ventilate Call respiratory therapy first Then call doctor
Os SAT
Normal range 93 - 100
A low O2 SAT (below 93) is considered what? Critical or Deadly
Critical
Assess pt respirations
Prepare to reposition pt and give O2
BNP
Normal range = less than 100
BNP is a good indicator of what?
CHF
Sodium (Na+)
Normal range 135 - 145
If the Na+ is high what should you assess for?
Dehydration
If a patient has an abnormal sodium level and an altered LOC the patient’s condition is considered what? Critical or Deadly
Critical!
because it is a safety issue
WBC
Normal range
Total = 5,000 - 11,000
ANC = greater than 500
CD4 = greater than 200
low CD4 indicates what condition?
AIDS
Low WBC is considered what? Critical or Deadly
Critical!
Assess pt for signs of infection
Prepare pt for neutropenic precautions
Platelets
No normal range
low platelets levels below 90,000 are considered what? Critical or Deadly
Critical!
Assess pt
Prepare to put pt on bleeding precautions
low platelets levels below 40,000 are considered what? Critical or Deadly
Deadly!
RBC
Normal range 4 - 6 million
