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Fundamentals of nursing skills > Lab Values High/Low causes > Flashcards

Lab Values High/Low causes Flashcards

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1
Q

RBCs (Red Blood Cells) – Erythrocyte Count
Purpose of test?

A

To check oxygen levels/cell-carrying capacity in blood

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2
Q

Low/High erythrocyte count

A

Low value = anemia, hemorrhage (excessive bleeding)
High value = polycythemia

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3
Q

WBCs (white Blood Cells)
Purpose of test

A

To assess the body’s ability to respond to & fight infection, determine presence of infection or response to treatment

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4
Q

WBC high/low caused by?

A

High values = infection, inflammation
Low values = aplastic anemia, chemotherapy effects, leukemia, HIV

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5
Q

Platelets
Purpose of test

A

assess clotting mechanisms of body, check platelet count

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6
Q

causes of low/high platelets values?

A

Low value = uncontrolled bleeding (thrombocytopenia)
High value = clotting, hardening of arteries (arthrosclerosis)

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7
Q

Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Purpose of test:

A

measure amount of Hgb (protein in RBCs that carries O2) in blood

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8
Q

causes of low/high Hgb

A

Low value = anemia, hemorrhage, fluid retention
High value = polycythemia, dehydration

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9
Q

Hematocrit
Purpose of test:

A

measure packed cell volume (percentage)

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10
Q

hematocrit high/low caused by

A

High & Low values for same reasons as Hgb
Low value = anemia, hemorrhage, fluid retention
High value = polycythemia, dehydration

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11
Q

TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
Purpose of test

A

: to monitor thyroid function

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12
Q

TSH Low Value Causes and meaning

A

= hyperthyroidism, too much medication, normal in first trimester of pregnancy

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13
Q

TSH High value causes and meaning

A

= hypothyroidism, not enough medication, pitiutary gland tumor

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14
Q

Blood Glucose
Low vs High value

A

Low Value = hypoglycemia
High value = hyperglycemia

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15
Q

Cholesterol Panel
Purpose of test:

A

to obtain a lipoprotein profile

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16
Q

LDL vs HDL

A

LDL (bad cholesterol) ideally below 100
HDL (good cholesterol) above* 45 or 50

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17
Q

What does a high value of total lipoprotein (excluding HDL) create a risk of?

A

increases risk of heart disease
</3 :(

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18
Q

PT/INR (Prothrombin Time, International Normalized Ratio)
Purpose of test:

A

to measure how long it takes blood to clot; check for bleeding problems

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19
Q

What is INR? how do you calculate INR?

A

INR is used to standardize PT test results
INR = Patient PT result ÷ normal PT value

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20
Q

what does a long bleeding time PT
INR indicate

A

lack of or low level of one or more clotting factors;
lack of Vitamin K
liver disease/injury
DIC- (causes abnormal blood clotting)

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21
Q

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
Purpose of test:

A

measures amount of nitrogen in blood from waste products; assess renal function

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22
Q

High value BUN caused by

A

kidney injury/disease (usually secondary to disease process), blockage of urinary tract,
Heart failure
dehydration

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23
Q

Low value BUN caused by

A

low protein diet, (Nitrogen is found in amino acids)
malnutrition,
severe liver damage
overhydration-dilutes

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24
Q

Creatinine
Purpose of test:

A

measures level of waste product creatinine in blood, assess renal function

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25
Q

Low creatine?

A

Low value: low muscle mass (secondary to disease or aging), severe liver disease, very low protein diet

26
Q

High creatine?

A

kidney injury/disease (usually secondary to disease process), blockage of urinary tract, dehydration, heart failure
- same as BUN,
excessive blood loss, muscle disorders

27
Q

ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
Purpose of test:

A

liver function test, measures amount of ALT in blood to identify liver damage/disease

28
Q

high value ALT?

A

:recent or severe liver damage,
hepatitis,
necrosis, shock, cirrhosis,
alcohol abuse, acetaminophen overdose

29
Q

AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
Purpose of test:

A

liver function test, measures amount of AST in blood to identify liver damage/disease

30
Q

high value AST?

A

:recent or severe liver damage,
hepatitis,
necrosis, shock, cirrhosis,
alcohol abuse, acetaminophen overdose
(same as ALT)

31
Q

Total Serum Protein test includes

A

(includes Albumin & Globulin)

32
Q

Albumin
Purpose of test

A

liver function test to determine amount of protein albumin in blood

33
Q

High albumin caused by

A

High value: severe dehydration

34
Q

low albumin caused by

A

Low value: malnutrition, kidney or liver disease, inflammation

35
Q

Globulin
Purpose of test

A

liver function test to determine amount of protein globulin in blood, helps determine chance of developing infection
Alpha 1, Alpha 2, Beta, Gamma

36
Q

High value globulin caused by

A

blood diseases,
autoimmune disorders,
liver or kidney disease

37
Q

low values of globulin caused by

A

kidney disorders,
hematologic disorders

38
Q

Sodium
Purpose of test

A

measure amount of sodium in the blood; check water & electrolyte balance of body

39
Q

High value Na caused by (hypernatremia)

A

high sodium diet,
dehydration,
hyperaldosteronism

40
Q

Low value Na caused by (hyponatremia),

A

excessive sweating,
burns,
severe vomiting or diarrhea,
malnutrition,
underactive adrenal or thyroid gland

41
Q

(hyperkalemia) high values of Potassium caused by

A

kidney damage/injury,
severe burns,
heart attack,
excessive supplementation

42
Q

hypokalemia low values of potassium caused by

A

high aldosterone levels – adrenal gland dysfunction, Cystic fibrosis, alcohol abuse, diet

43
Q

High value Ca (hypercalcemia),

A

hyperparathyroidism, cancer, TB

44
Q

Low value Ca (hypocalcemia)

A

hypoparathyroidism, low albumin level, malnutrition

45
Q

High Mg

A

dehydration,
renal failure,
adrenal gland disease (Addison’s disease), hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism,
too much MOM

46
Q

Low Mg

A

alcohol abuse,
diabetes complications,
hypercalcemia,
pancreatitis,
kidney disease

47
Q

High Chlorine Cl

A

High value: dehydration, high salt diet, kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism

48
Q

Low Chlorine Cl

A

Low value: conditions that cause water build-up in the body, Addison’s Disease, heart failure

49
Q

High phosphate test

A

High value: kidney disease, hypoparathyroidism, healing fractures

50
Q

Low phosphate test

A

Low value: hyperparathyroidism, bone disease, severe malnutrition

51
Q

BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide)
Purpose of test

A

to measure amount of BNP hormone in the blood, assess for heart failure

52
Q

High BNP brain natriuretic peptide

A

High value: heart failure, increased pressure or fluid in the heart

53
Q

high troponin

A

High value: Heart muscle injury; levels typically rise 4-6 hours after a heart attack, highest level 12-24 hours after a heart attack

54
Q

CK-MB (creatinine phosokinase MB), also known as CPK-MB high value

A

Heart muscle damage caused by heart attack; levels rise within 4-6 hours after heart attack, reach highest levels within 12-24 hours

55
Q

high specific gravity

A

High value: dehydration, diuretic use, kidney disease

56
Q

low specific gravity

A

Low value: overhydration, sugar or protein present

57
Q

causes of high vs low pH of urine

A

High value: metabolic or respiratory alkalosis

Low value: metabolic or respiratory acidosis

58
Q

protein above expected amount in the urine indicates

A

If present: kidney damage, HTN, pregnancy, infection

59
Q

glucose in urine

A

If present: uncontrolled diabetes, kidney disease

60
Q

ketones in urine

A

If present: uncontrolled diabetes, alcoholism, low CHO diet

61
Q

RBC WBC nitrites

A

UTi

Fundamentals of nursing skills (3 decks)

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