Easy NCLEX Labs Flashcards
Labs
Hemoglobin
Hgb
Purpose:
Transport oxygen to tissue & CO2 back to lungs. RBC’s are made up of hemoglobin. If this is low think Iron deficiency anemia.
Hgb
male 14-16.5 g/dl
female 12-15 g/dl
Labs
Red blood cells
RBC
Purpose: These carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues around your body.
RBC
male 4.5-6.2%
female 4-5.5%
Labs
Hematocrit
Purpose: is the ratio of the volume of packed RBCs to the total blood volume.
If it’s low than that indicates a decrease in 02 capacity.
Hematocrit
male 41-51%
female 36-46%
This number increases with DEHYDRATION
Labs
White Blood Cells
WBC
Purpose: This is the body’s defense against infectious organisms & foreign substances. Chemotherapy would make this laboratory value decreased.
WBC
5,000 - 10,000 /uL or mm3
Labs
K
Purpose: Potassium is a mineral & electrolyte.
Carries an electrical charge important for many cardiac functions.
K
3.5-5.1 mEq/L
Labs
Na
Purpose: Sodium maintains fluid levels,
muscle & nerve functions
Na
135-145 mEq/L
Labs
Ca
Purpose: Calcium is a mineral & electrolyte that is important in bone & teeth development.
Ca
8.6-10 mEq/L
Labs
Mg
Purpose: Magnesium is important for nerves & muscles. It helps neutralize acid in stomach.
An example of a medication that contains magnesium is Milk of Magnesia (laxative)
Mg
1.6-2.6 mEq/L
Labs
Cl
Purpose: Chloride keeps the fluid balance in/out of cells in check. We get most of chloride from sodium chloride we eat. It is digested in the intestines.
Cl
95-105 mEq/L
Labs
CO2
Purpose: Carbon dioxide is a waste product of the respiratory system but also is necessary for our body to function properly.
CO2
22-32 mEq/L
Labs
Blood urea nitrogen BUN
Liver/kidney test
Purpose: The test measures the level of urea in the blood. Urea is a waste product that comes from protein. It’s what is left over. Urea is made in the liver but then it is the kidneys responsibility to get rid of it through the urine.
8-25 mg/dL (Microgram/deciliter)
Labs
Creatinine
This is a test of kidney function. The creatinine clearance rate helps to estimate the glomerular Filtration rate (GFR)
- 6-1. 3 mg/dL
High creatinine signals renal failure
Labs
Liver enzymes
1. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST or SGOT) enzyme that is released when the liver or muscle cells are injured.
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT or SGPT) like AST this is an enzyme that is found in the liver that is normally low but when liver damage has occurred this value will be elevated.
Based on Saunders
AST or SGOT 0-35 U/L
ALT or SGPT 4-36 U/L
These values elevate with hepatitis or jaundice.
Labs
Glucose
Serum glucose is the amount of sugar in the blood. Most of our sugar comes from carbohydrates.
7 0-1 1 0 mg/ dL
european: 3.9 to 5.6 mmol/L
Labs
PTT
Partial thromboplastin time
A blood test that helps doctors assess the body’s ability to form a blood clot. The test measures how many seconds it takes for a clot to form.
Clotting should occur in 60 to 70 seconds.
If the client is taking an anticoagulant it will be 1.5 X 2.5 times longer 120 to 140 seconds.
