Labs Flashcards
1
Q
Specific Gravity
A
- High urine output → low specific gravity
- Low urine output → high specific graviry
2
Q
Creatinine (A category)
A
- Best indicator of kidney function
- 0.6-1.2 (serum)
- If elevated, abnormal but not too worrisome (just means kidneys are failing)
3
Q
INR (+4 = C category)
A
- Monitors coumadin (warfarin) therapy
- 2-3
- Increased = bleed risk
- >4 is critical
- hold all coumadin
- Assess bleeding
- Prepare to give Vitamin K
- Call PCP
4
Q
Potassium
A
- 3.5-5.3
- For low (C category)
- Assess heart
- Prepare to give K+
- Call PCP
- For mid - (5.4-5.9) (C category)
- Hold potassium
- Assess heart
- Call PCP
- For high (6+) (D category)
- Hold K+, assess heart, prepare Kayexalate/D5W
- Call PCP
5
Q
pH
A
- 7.35-7.45
- Ph in 6s (D category)
- Get vitals and call Dr.
6
Q
BUN (B category)
A
- 8-25 (“8 buns in the pack”)
- Elevated
- Check for dehydration
7
Q
Hemoglobin
A
- 12-18
- For 8-11 (B category)
- Monitor the patient
- For <8 (C category)
- Assess bleeding, prepare for transfusion, call PCP
8
Q
Hct (B category)
A
- 36-54 (3x Hgb)
- If abnormal be concerned
- Assess for dehydration
9
Q
HCO3
A
- 22-26
- If out of range, abnormal but not worrisome
10
Q
CO2
A
- 35-45
- For CO2 in the 50s (C Category)
- Assess respirations
- Do pursed-lip breathing (blow out candle and exhale for longer periods)
- Don’t give O2 (will increase CO2)
- Does not apply to COPD
- For CO2 in the 60s (D Category)
- Sign of respiratory failure
- Assess respirations
- Do pursed-lip breathing (decrease anxiety)
- Prepare to intubate and ventilate
- Call respiratory therapist
- Call PCP
11
Q
PO2
A
- 78-100
- For 70-700 (C Category)
- Sign of respiratory insufficiency
- Assess respirations
- Give Oxygen
- For <60s (D Category)
- Sign of respiratory failure
- Assess respirations
- Give Oxygen
- Prepare intubate and ventilate
- Call respiratory therapist
- Call PCP
12
Q
O2
A
- 93-100
- For <93
- Assess respirations and give oxygen
- Anemia invalidates finger probe reading
- falsely elevated
- Dye procedures cause high readings too
13
Q
BNP
A
- Good indicator of CHF
- 100
- For elevated #s (B category)
- Continue to monitor
14
Q
Sodium
A
- 135-145
- Be concerned until there’s a change in the LOC (then becomes C Category)
- If high, assess for dehydration
- If low, assess for overload
15
Q
WBCs (C Categories)
A
- Total: 5000-11000
- High WBC = leukocytosis
- Low WBC = leukopenia, neutropenia, agranulocytosis, immunosuppression, bone marrow suppression
- immunosuppressed, implement neutropenic precautions
- ANC: Above 500
- immunosuppressed, implement neutropenic precautions
- CD4: Above 200 (<200 = AIDS)
- immunosuppressed, implement neutropenic precautions