Lab Values & ABG Interpretation - Nursing Flashcards

Lab Panels

• Complete Blood Count (CBC), CBC with Differential, Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP), Liver Function Panel, Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP), Lipid Panel, Thyroid Panel, Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)

Adult Lab Panels

• Electrolytes: Calcium (Ca), Chloride (Cl), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sodium (Na)
• Cardiac Labs: Creatinine Kinase (CK-MB), Troponin T, Troponin I, Myoglobin, Total Cholesterol, Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), Triglycerides, High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Human B-type Natriuretic Peptides (hBNP)
• Hematologic Labs: Red Blood Cells (RBCs), White Blood Cells (WBCs), Platelets, Hemoglobin (Hgb), Hematocrit (Hct), Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT), Prothrombin Time (PT), International Normalized Ratio (INR), D-Dimer.
• Gastrointestinal Labs: Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Amylase, Lipase, Bilirubin, Albumin, Prealbumin, Total Protein, Ammonia.
• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
• Renal Labs: Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR), Urine Specific Gravity, Urine Osmolality
• Serum Osmolality
• Thyroid Labs: Triiodothyronine (T3), Thyroxine (T4), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
• Blood Glucose: Expected Range, Hypoglycemia, Diabetes Criteria, Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State.
• CD4+ T-Lymphocytes
• Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
• Medications: Digoxin, Lithium, Phenytoin, Theophylline

Pediatric Lab Panels

• Hematologic Labs: Red Blood Cells, Platelets, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit
• Blood Glucose: Hypoglycemia, Diabetic Ketoacidosis
• Bilirubin: Normal Levels, Levels that Require Intervention
• Lead: Normal Levels, Levels Requiring Chelation Therapy
• Sweat Chloride: Normal Levels, Levels Diagnostic for Cystic Fibrosis

ABG Interpretation

• Acid-Base Balance: Chemical Buffers, Respiratory System, Renal System
• Obtaining an ABG Sample
• ABG Components: pH, PaO₂, PaCO₂, HCO₃, SaO₂
• ABG Interpretation Steps
• Respiratory Acidosis: Types (Uncompensated, Partially Compensated, Fully Compensated), Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
• Respiratory Alkalosis: Types (Uncompensated, Partially Compensated, Fully Compensated), Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
• Metabolic Acidosis: Types (Uncompensated, Partially Compensated, Fully Compensated), Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
• Metabolic Alkalosis: Types (Uncompensated, Partially Compensated, Fully Compensated), Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Other Important Ranges

• Hemodynamics: Central Venous Pressure, Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure (PAWP), Cardiac Output
• Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF)
• Intracranial Pressure (ICP) and Intraocular Pressure (IOP)
• Urine Output

NOTE: Lab values vary slightly from one source to another. Therefore, your textbook or professor may have slightly different lab value ranges from the lab value ranges contained in these flashcards. Our cards are matte on back, so you can feel free to write in alternative ranges/values if necessary! On Nursing exams, if you are given a lab value that is out-of-range, it will typically be VERY out-of-range. So, slight differences in expected lab value ranges should not impact your ability to recognize out-of-range lab values on exams. All of our lab value ranges were cross-referenced against multiple nursing textbooks, .gov websites, and other peer-reviewed sources to bring you the most accurate and well-established ranges.