Get a free nursing lab values cheat sheet at NURSING.com/63labs

 

What is the Lab Name for Low Density Lipoprotein Lab Values?

Low Density Lipoprotein

 

What is the Lab Abbreviation for Low Density Lipoprotein?

LDL

 

What is Low Density Lipoprotein in terms of Nursing Labs?

Cholesterol is transported via lipoproteins. There are multiple types of lipoproteins and they each have slightly different functions: high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein, LDL, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). LDL cholesterol is considered bad cholesterol because as it travels through the blood, it deposits cholesterol into the lining of blood vessels, causing atherosclerosis and an increase in cardiovascular disease.

 

What is the Normal Range for Low Density Lipoprotein?

Get a free nursing lab values cheat sheet at NURSING.com/63labs

 

Objective:

Determine the significance and clinical use of  Lipase in clinical practice

 

Lab Test Name:

Lipase

 

Description:

Lipase

Measurement of lipase in the blood

• Used to diagnose pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer
• An enzyme produced by the pancreas
• Aids in breakdown of fats
• Released into the bloodstream as a result of damage to the pancreas

 

Indications:

Diagnose:

• Pancreatitis
  • Severe upper abdominal pain
  • Abdominal pain – radiates
  • Fever
  • N/V
  • Tachycardia
• Pancreatic cancer
  • Discoloration of urine and stool
  • Weight loss
  • Diabetes

 

Normal Therapeutic Values:

Normal: 

• 23-300 U/L

Collection:

• Plasma separator tube
• Serum separator tube

 

What would cause increased levels?

• Pancreatitis
• Pancreatic cyst
• Pseudocyst
• Pancreatic duct obstruction
• Renal failure
• Cholecystitis
• Peptic ulcer disease

 

What would cause decreased levels?

N/A

Get a free nursing lab values cheat sheet at NURSING.com/63labs

 

What is the Lab Name for Lactic Acid Lab Values?

Lactic Acid

 

What is Lactic Acid in terms of Nursing Labs?

Lactate (Lactic Acid) is a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism. Normally, the tissues use aerobic metabolism to breakdown glucose for energy and the byproduct is CO2 and H2O which we excrete through our kidneys and exhalation. However, if the tissues are starved of oxygen (hypoxic), they use anaerobic metabolism. This can be compounded if the liver is also hypoxic causing the liver to be unable to clear the lactic acid.

 

What is the Normal Range for Lactic Acid?

0.3 -2.6 mmol/L

 

What are the Indications for Lactic Acid?

• Determine cause of acidosis
• Evaluate tissue oxygenation

 

What would cause Increased Levels of Lactic Acid?

• Shock
• Sepsis
• Tissue ischemia
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Lactic acidosis
• Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
• Heart failure
• Pulmonary edema
• Strenuous exercise

 

What would cause Decreased Levels of Lactic Acid?

N/A

Get a free nursing lab values cheat sheet at NURSING.com/63labs

 

Objective:

Determine the significance and clinical use of iron levels in clinical practice

 

Lab Test Name:

Iron – Fe

 

Description:

Measures the amount of Fe in the bloodstream. 

Evaluates: 

• Sufficient Fe level 
  • oxygen transport 
  • proper hemoglobin & RBC production

Iron (Fe) is an element that is an important component of hemoglobin in red blood cells.

Iron aids hemoglobin’s transport of oxygen from the lungs to all the cells of the body. 

The storage form of iron is ferritin. Iron is transported in the blood by a protein called transferrin.

 

Indications:

Identify:

• Blood loss
• Hemochromatosis
• Malabsorption of iron
• Iron overload

Type of anemia:

• Thalassemia
• Sideroblastic anemia
• Iron deficient anemia

 

Normal Therapeutic Values:

Normal – 

50-175 μg/dL

Collection:

• plasma separator tube

 

What would cause increased levels:

What would cause Increased Levels of Iron?

• Hemochromatosis
• Lead toxicity
• Iron poisoning
• Acute liver disease
• Multiple blood transfusions
• Hemolytic anemia
• Sideroblastic anemia

 

What would cause decreased levels:

What would cause Decreased Levels of Iron?

• Blood Loss:
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding
  • Heavy menstruation
  • Chronic hematuria
• Hypothyroidism
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Inadequate absorption of iron

Get a free nursing lab values cheat sheet at NURSING.com/63labs

 

What is the Lab Name for International Normalized Ratio (INR) Lab Values?

International Normalized Ratio

 

What is the Lab Abbreviation for International Normalized Ratio?

INR

 

What is International Normalized Ratio in terms of Nursing Labs?

International normalized ratio(INR) takes results from a prothrombin time test and standardizes it regardless of collection method.

 

What is the Normal Range for International Normalized Ratio?

0.8 – 1.2 Therapeutic Levels on Warfarin 2.0 – 3.5

 

What are the Indications for International Normalized Ratio?

• Evaluate therapeutic doses of Warfarin
• Identify patients at higher risk for bleeding
• Identify cause of:
  • Bleeding
  • Deficiencies

  What would cause Increased Levels of International Normalized Ratio?

• Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
• Liver disease
• Vitamin K deficiency
• Warfarin

  What would cause Decreased Levels of International Normalized Ratio?

• Too much vitamin K
• Estrogen containing medications such as birth control

Get a free nursing lab values cheat sheet at NURSING.com/63labs

 

What is the Lab Name for High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Lab Values?

High Density Lipoprotein

 

What is the Lab Abbreviation for High Density Lipoprotein?

HDL

 

What is High Density Lipoprotein in terms of Nursing Labs?

Cholesterol is transported via lipoproteins. There are multiple types of lipoproteins and they each have slightly different functions: high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein, LDL, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). HDL cholesterol is considered the good cholesterol because it travels through the blood picking up extra cholesterol and taking it back to the liver.

 

What is the Normal Range for High Density Lipoprotein?

60 optimal mg/dL

  What are the Indications for High Density Lipoprotein?

• Monitor risks of heart disease

 

What would cause Increased Levels of High Density Lipoprotein?

• Familial HDL Lipoproteinemia
• Exercise
• Unsaturated fats:
  • Mono-
  • Poly-
• Hypothyroid

 

What would cause Decreased Levels of High Density Lipoprotein?

• Metabolic Syndrome
• Hepatocellular disease:
  • Hepatitis
  • Cirrhosis
• Hypoproteinemia:
  • Nephrotic Syndrome
  • Malnutrition
• Smoking
• High saturated and trans fat diets
• Excess body weight
• Hyperthyroid

Get a free nursing lab values cheat sheet at NURSING.com/63labs

 

What is the Lab Name for Hemoglobin (Hbg) Lab Values?

Hemoglobin

 

What is the Lab Abbreviation for Hemoglobin?

Hbg

 

What is Hemoglobin in terms of Nursing Labs?

Hemoglobin (Hbg), an iron containing compound, is the main protein in Red Blood Cells (RBCs). It enables oxygen and carbon dioxide (CO2) to bind to RBCs for transport throughout the body.

 

What is the Normal Range for Hemoglobin?

Male: 13.5 – 16.5 g/dL | Female: 12.0 – 15.0 g/dL

 

What are the Indications for Hemoglobin?

Identify:

• Bleeding disorders
• Anemia
• Blood loss

 

 

What would cause Increased Levels of Hemoglobin?

• Erythrocytosis
• Polycythemia Vera
• Shock
• Dehydration
• Severe burns
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Congenital Heart Disease

 

What would cause Decreased Levels of Hemoglobin?

• Anemia
• Blood Loss
• Bone Marrow Disorders:
  • Leukemia
  • Lymphoma
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Aplastic anemia
• Severe burns
• Hyperthyroidism
• Renal disease
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Get a free nursing lab values cheat sheet at NURSING.com/63labs

 

What is the Lab Name for Hematocrit (Hct) Lab Values?

Hematocrit

 

What is the Lab Abbreviation for Hematocrit?

Hct

 

What is Hematocrit in terms of Nursing Labs?

Hematocrit (Hct) is the percentage of the blood that is made up of packed Red Blood Cells (RBCs). A hematocrit level of 40% indicates that there are 40 mL packed red blood cells in 100 mL of blood.

 

What is the Normal Range for Hematocrit?

Male: 41 – 50% | Female: 36 – 44%

 

What are the Indications for Hematocrit?

• Identify:
  • Anemia
  • Bleeding
  • Bleeding disorder
  • Fluid imbalances

  What would cause Increased Levels of Hematocrit?

• Erythrocytosis
• Polycythemia Vera
• Shock
• Dehydration
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Congenital Heart Disease

 

What would cause Decreased Levels of Hematocrit?

• Anemia
• Blood loss
• Bone marrow disorders:
  • Leukemia
  • Lymphoma
  • Hodgkin disease
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Aplastic anemia
• Hyperthyroidism
• Renal disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Get a free nursing lab values cheat sheet at NURSING.com/63labs

 

What is the Lab Name for Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) Lab Values?

Glycosylated Hemoglobin

 

What is the Lab Abbreviation for Glycosylated Hemoglobin?

HbA1c

 

What is Glycosylated Hemoglobin in terms of Nursing Labs?

Glycosylated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) is the combination of glucose and hemoglobin. When glucose is elevated in the blood the amount of glycosylated hemoglobin increases proportionally. A red blood cells lifespan is about 4 months, so you can get an idea of blood sugar control over the last several months.

 

What is the Normal Range for Glycosylated Hemoglobin?

5.6-7.5 % of total Hgb

 

What are the Indications for Glycosylated Hemoglobin?

• Assess control of blood sugars over a several month time frame
• Diagnose Diabetes Mellitus (DM)

 

What would cause Increased Levels of Glycosylated Hemoglobin?

• Poorly controlled Diabetes Mellitus(DM)
• Non-Diabetic Hyperglycemia:
  • Stress
  • Cushing Syndrome
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Corticosteroid Therapy

 

What would cause Decreased Levels of Glycosylated Hemoglobin?

• Renal failure
• Blood loss
• Hemolytic anemia
• Sickle cell anemia

Get a free nursing lab values cheat sheet at NURSING.com/63labs

 

What is the Lab Name for Glucose Lab Values?

Glucose

 

What is Glucose in terms of Nursing Labs?

Glucose is a sugar molecule that is a component of carbohydrates. Glucose provides energy in the body and is absorbed from the blood to the cells for nourishment via insulin. The pancreas secretes insulin to helps regulate levels of glucose in the blood. Glucose levels naturally rise after meals with the intake of carbohydrates.

 

What is the Normal Range for Glucose?

70-115 mg/dL

What are the Indications for Glucose?

• Diagnose:
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hyperglycemia
  • Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
• Monitor treatments for Diabetes Mellitus (DM)

 

What would cause Increased Levels of Glucose?

• Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
• Stress
• Pancreatitis
• Chronic Renal Failure
• Cushing Syndrome
• Corticosteroid therapy

 

What would cause Decreased Levels of Glucose?

• Insulinoma
• Hypothyroidism
• Hypopituitarism
• Addison Disease
• Insulin overdose
• Starvation