NUR 152 Lab Values & Concepts/Basic Conversions

Brain Natriuretic Peptide - BNP (Heart Failure Lab Value)

Digoxin Level (Digoxin Lab Values - Adults)

0.8 - 2 ng/ml

Total Calcium - Ca (Electrolyte Lab Values - Adults)

8.8 - 10.4 mg/dL

Chloride - Cl (Electrolyte Lab Values - Adults)

96 - 106 mEq/L

Magnesium - Mg (Electrolyte Lab Value - Adults)

1.8 - 2.6 mg/dL

Phosphate - Phos (Electrolyte Lab Values - Adults)

2.7 - 4.5 mg/dL

Potassium - K (Electrolyte Lab Value - Adults)

3.5 - 5.0 mEq/L

Sodium - Na (Electrolyte Lab Value - Adults)

135 - 145 mEq/L

White Blood Cells - WBCs (Hematologic Lab Values - Adults)

5,000 - 10,000 cells/mm3 (cubed)

Red Blood Cells - RBCs (Hematologic Lab Values - Adults)

4.2 - 5.4 (male); 3.6 - 5.0 (female)/ (x 10^6/mm3)

Platelet count - PLT (Coagulation Lab Values - Adults)

140,000 - 400,000/microliter

Hemoglobin - HgB or HGB (Hematologic Lab Values - Adults)

14 - 17.4 g/dL (male); 12 - 16 g/dL (female)

Hematocrit - HCT or Hct (Hematologic Lab Values - Adults)

42% - 52% (male); 36% - 48% (female)

International Normalized Ratio - INR (Coagulation Lab Values - Adults)

0.8 - 1.2 (normal value); 2.0 - 3.5 (if patient on anticoagulant therapy)

Partial Thromboplastin Time - PTT (Coagulation Lab Values - Adults)

21 - 35 seconds (aPTT)*

Pts. will be 2.0-2.5 times the normal value in seconds when receiving anticoagulant therapy

Alanine aminotransferase- ALT (Liver Function Tests Lab Values or LFTs - Adults)

10 - 40 /microliter (male); 7 - 35 /microliter (female)

Aspartate aminotransferase - AST (Liver Function Tests Lab Values or LFTs - Adults)

14 - 20/microliter (male); 10 - 36/microliter (female)

Blood Urea Nitrogen - BUN (Renal Function Tests Lab Values - Adults)

8 - 20mg/dL

Creatinine (Renal Function Tests Lab Values - Adults)

0.6 - 1.2 mg/dL (male); 0.4 - 1.0 mg/dL (female)

Creatinine Clearance - values decrease 6.5/minute/decade after age 20 (Renal Function Tests Lab Values - Adults)

90 - 140 mL/min (male); 70 - 110 ml/min (female)

Fasting Blood Glucose - FBS (Blood Glucose Lab Values - Adults)

70 - 110 mg/dL

Hemoglobin A1c - HgbA1c or A1C (Blood Glucose Lab Values - Adults)

6% or less (nondiabetic)

Albumin (Nutritional Lab Values - Adults)

3.4 - 5.4 g/dL

Prealbumin (Nutritional Lab Values - Adults)

19 - 38 mg/dL

1 oz = ? ml

30 ml

1 cup = ? oz

8 oz

8 oz = ? ml

240 ml

1 tsp = ? ml

5 ml

1 Tbsp = ? ml

15 ml

1 liter (L) = ? ml

1000 ml

1/2 liter (L) = ? ml

500 ml

1 kg = ? lbs

2.2 lbs

1 lb = ? oz

16 oz

Fahrenheit to Celsius

(F-32) x 5/9

Celsius to Fahrenheit

F = (C x 9/5) + 32

Order Check (Medication Administration Check for Patient Safety)

The order check occurs with the review of the medication administration record (MAR) and the prescriber orders. You are verifying that the medication on the MAR and the most current prescriber order match and that no changes have been made i.e. discontinued, increased, or decreased.

Med Check (Medication Administration Check for Patient Safety)

The med check occurs at the Pyxis or Med Cart, often in the medication room. You will physically hold the medication to the MAR, as you take it out of the dispensing system, to verify that it is correct i.e. medication, dose etc. Verify the date on the medication to see if it is expired. Complete any math calculations that may be necessary. High alert medications required a second nurse verification. Double cup meds that require a nurse intervention (HR, BP etc.). If a med does not required a nurse intervention prior to administration, it can be single cupped.

Bedside Check (Medication Administration Check for Patient Safety)

The bedside check occurs in the patient's room. After verifying the patient i.e. first and last name birthdate, medical (MR) number, and allergies, you will explain the medications to the patient in terms they can understand including the name of the medication, what it is for, and the dose. Perform any nurse interventions that may be necessary prior to giving medication e.g. HR, BP, etc. Physically hold the medication to the MAR and verify that it is the correct medication and dose one last time before administration.

Six Rights of Medication Administration

1. Right patient

2. Right dose

3. Right time

4. Right medication

5. Right route

6. Right documentation