NUR 152 Lab Values and Concepts

Adult lab values, math conversions, and medication administration safety concepts for NUR 152.

Brain Natriuretic peptide (BNP)

$< 100\,\text{ng/L}$ (normal heart failure lab value for adults)

Digoxin Level

$$0.8-2\,\text{ng/ml}$$

Total Calcium (Ca)

$$8.8 -10.4\,\text{mg/dL}$$

Chloride (CI)

$$96 - 106\,\text{mEq/L}$$

Magnesium (Mg)

$$1.8 - 2.6\,\text{mg/dL}$$

Phosphate (Phos)

$$2.7 -4.5\,\text{mg/dL}$$

Potassium (K)

$$3.5 - 5.0\,\text{mEq/L}$$

Sodium (Na)

$$135-145\,\text{mEq/L}$$

White Blood Cells (WBCs)

$$5,000-10,000/\text{mm}^3$$

Red Blood Cells (RBCs) Male

$$4.2-5.4 \times 10^6/\text{mm}^3$$

Red Blood Cells (RBCs) Female

$$3.6-5.0 \times 10^6/\text{mm}^3$$

Platelet count

$$140,000-400,000/\mu\text{L}$$

Hemoglobin (HgB) Male

$$14-17.4\,\text{g/dL}$$

Hemoglobin (HgB) Female

$$12 - 16\,\text{g/dL}$$

Hematocrit (HCT) Male

$$42\% - 52\%$$

Hematocrit (HCT) Female

$$36\% -48\%$$

International Normalized Ratio (INR) Normal

$$0.8-1.2$$

International Normalized Ratio (INR) Anticoagulant Target

$$2.0-3.5$$

Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) Normal

$$21-35\,\text{seconds}$$

aPTT Anticoagulant Therapy Range

$2.0-2.5$ times the normal value in seconds

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Male

$$10-40/\mu\text{L}$$

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Female

$$7-35/\mu\text{L}$$

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) Male

$$14-20/\mu\text{L}$$

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) Female

$$10-36/\mu\text{L}$$

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)

$$8-20\,\text{mg/dL}$$

Creatinine Male

$$0.6-1.2\,\text{mg/dL}$$

Creatinine Female

$$0.4 - 1.0\,\text{mg/dL}$$

Creatinine Clearance Male

$$90-140\,\text{mL/min}$$

Creatinine Clearance Female

$$70 - 110\,\text{mL/min}$$

Fasting Blood Glucose

$$70-110\,\text{mg/dL}$$

Hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c) Nondiabetic

$6\%$ or less

Albumin

$$3.4 - 5.4\,\text{g/dL}$$

Prealbumin

$$19-38\,\text{mg/dL}$$

1 oz. Conversion

$$30\,\text{mL}$$

1 cup Conversion

$8\,\text{oz.}$ ($240\,\text{mL}$)

1 teaspoon (tsp) Conversion

$$5\,\text{mL}$$

1 tablespoon (Tbsp.) Conversion

$$15\,\text{mL}$$

1 liter Conversion

$$1000\,\text{mL}$$

1/2 liter Conversion

$$500\,\text{mL}$$

1 kg Conversion

$$2.2\,\text{lbs.}$$

1 lb. Conversion

$$16\,\text{oz.}$$

Fahrenheit to Celsius Formula

$$C^{\circ} = (F^{\circ} - 32) \times \frac{5}{9}$$

Celsius to Fahrenheit Formula

$$F^{\circ} = (\frac{9}{5} \times C^{\circ}) + 32$$

Order Check

Reviewing the medication administration record (MAR) against prescriber orders to verify that medication matches and no changes (discontinued, increased, or decreased) have occurred.

Med Check

Occurs at the Pyxis or Med Cart; physically holding the medication to the MAR, verifying the dose, checking for expiration, completing math, and obtaining second nurse verification for high alert medications.

Bedside Check

Occurs in the patient's room; verifying patient ID (name, birthdate, MR number, allergies), explaining medication name/purpose/dose, performing nurse interventions (HR, BP), and verifying the MAR one last time.

Six Rights of Medication Administration

1. Right Patient, 2. Right Dose, 3. Right Time, 4. Right Medication, 5. Right Route, 6. Right Documentation