
8 episodes

Lab Values Podcast by NURSING.com (Nursing Podcast, normal lab values for nurses for NCLEX®) by NURSING.com (NRSNG) Jon Haws RN: Critical Care Nurse & NCLEX Educator
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- Health & Fitness
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4.3 • 114 Ratings
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By Jon Haws RN: Critical Care Nurse NCLEX Educator
Quick . . . is the aPTT within normal range? Are you sweating a bit? Nervous? Head over to NURSING.com/freebies for our free cheat sheet covering the 63 most important lab values for nurses. This podcast covers one essential lab value for episode including normal ranges, nursing considerations, and background information. Normal lab values are hard to keep straight. This show includes the most common including: Creatinine, WBC, BUN, aPTT, blood gasses, and more. Welcome to the Nursing family! For full disclaimer information visit nursing.com.
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Bilirubin
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Objective: Determine the significance and clinical use of measuring Direct or Conjugated Bilirubin in clinical practice
Lab Test Name: Direct or Conjugated Bilirubin
Description: Bilirubin is a substance made when your body breaks down old red blood cells. This is a normal process. Bilirubin is also part of bile, which your liver makes to help digest the food you eat.
A small amount of bilirubin in your blood is normal.
Some bilirubin is bound to albumin in the blood. This type of bilirubin is called unconjugated, or indirect, bilirubin.
In the liver, bilirubin is changed into a form that your body can get rid of. This is called conjugated bilirubin or direct bilirubin.
This bilirubin travels from the liver into the small intestine. A very small amount passes into your kidneys and is excreted in your urine. This bilirubin also gives urine its distinctive yellow color and contributes to the brown color of stool.
Indications: Newborns – immature liver has trouble clearing bilirubin and manifests as jaundice Investigate jaundice in adults Blockage of bile ducts- (liver or gallbladder) Detection of liver disease- particularly hepatitis Monitor progression of hepatitis Detect issues with RBC breakdown→hemolytic anemia Suspected drug toxicity- many medications are metabolized and cleared in the liver
Normal Therapeutic Values: Normal – 0.0-0.2 mg/dL
Collection:
Plasma separator tube
What would cause increased levels? Increased levels linked to:
Poor liver function or hepatitis Certain medications Hemolytic anemia Pregnancy Sepsis- poor perfusion Exercise TPN ETOH
What would cause decreased levels? Studies are inconclusive regarding risk or association with disease process in the presence of a decreased bilirubin level. -
Aspartate Aminotransferase
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What is the Lab Name for Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) Lab Values?
Aspartate Aminotransferase
What is the Lab Abbreviation for Aspartate Aminotransferase?
AST
What is Aspartate Aminotransferase in terms of Nursing Labs?
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is an enzyme primarily found in liver and heart cells and to a smaller extent, AST can also be found in the pancreas, kidneys, skeletal muscle, and brain. Levels of AST increase from cell death (necrosis) because the AST enzyme is released into the blood.
What is the Normal Range for Aspartate Aminotransferase?
12-37 U/L
What are the Indications for Aspartate Aminotransferase?
Monitor progression of: Liver disease Response to treatments. Monitor liver toxic medications
What would cause Increased Levels of Aspartate Aminotransferase?
Liver disease Liver cancer Shock Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Pericarditis Biliary tract obstruction Dermatomyositis Pancreatitis Muscular Dystrophy CVA Hemolytic anemia Delirium Tremens (DT)
What would cause Decreased Levels of Aspartate Aminotransferase?
N/A -
Amylase
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What is the Lab Name for Amylase Lab Values?
Amylase
What is Amylase in terms of Nursing Labs?
Amylase is made in the pancreas. It is an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates to allow our body to absorb it. Monitoring amylase levels can identify problems with the pancreas.
What is the Normal Range for Amylase?
0-130 U/L
What are the Indications for Amylase?
Diagnosing: Pancreatitis Pancreatic Duct Obstruction Macroamylasemia Trauma to Pancreas
What would cause Increased Levels of Amylase?
Pancreatitis Pancreatic Cancer Pancreatic Cyst DKA Peritonitis Abdominal Trauma Duodenal Obstruction Mumps Alcohol use
What would cause Decreased Levels of Amylase?
Pancreatic Insufficiency Pancreatectomy Toxemia of Pregnancy Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease -
Ammonia
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What is the Lab Name for Ammonia (NH3) Lab Values?
Ammonia
What is the Lab Abbreviation for Ammonia?
NH3
What is Ammonia in terms of Nursing Labs?
Ammonia (NH3) is a byproduct created when protein is broken down. Ammonia is converted into urea in the liver, and urea is excreted by the kidneys. During liver disease, ammonia levels rise and can have a negative effect on the brain.
What is the Normal Range for Ammonia?
19-60 mcg/dL
What are the Indications for Ammonia?
Identifying liver disease Monitoring hepatic encephalopathy Evaluating effectiveness of treatment.
What would cause Increased Levels of Ammonia?
Liver Failure Hepatic Coma (Hepatic Encephalopathy) Reye’s syndrome Total Parental Nutrition (TPN) Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
What would cause Decreased Levels of Ammonia?
Some Antibiotics: Neomycin Hypertension -
Alkaline Phosphatase
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Objective: Determine the significance and clinical use of alkaline phosphatase in clinical practice
Lab Test Name: Alkaline Phosphatase – ALP
Description: Measures amount of ALP in circulation
Located in several places in the body:
Liver Intestines Biliary tract Bones Placenta Different isoenzymes of ALP are used to determine:
Liver, bone, intestine and other cancers Bone turnover in postmenopausal women
Indications: Evaluation of ALP:
Hepatobiliary disease Malignancies Bone disease Bone damage in renal patients
Normal Therapeutic Values: Normal – 40-130 U/L
Collection:
Plasma separator tube
What would cause increased levels? Increased levels assessed in:
Liver disease Bone disease Pregnancy Amyloidosis Lung cancer Pancreatic cancer Congestive heart failure Ulcerative colitis Hodgkin’s disease Chronic renal failure Sarcoidosis
What would cause decreased levels? Hypophosphatasia (spelling error on existing outline on NURSING.com) Anemia Kwashiorkor Cretinism Hypothyroidism Zinc or magnesium deficiency Scurvy -
Albumin
Get a free nursing lab values cheat sheet at NURSING.com/63labs
What is the Lab Name for Albumin Lab Values?
Albumin
What is the Lab Abbreviation for Albumin?
alb
What is Albumin in terms of Nursing Labs?
Albumin is a transport protein in the blood. It helps maintain the oncotic pressure of the blood. Albumin levels will drop if synthesis is slowed, protein intake is inadequate, or there are increased losses. Albumin has a long half life, however, so levels are not a good indicator of acute illness.
What is the Normal Range for Albumin?
3.5 – 6.0 g/dL
What are the Indications for Albumin?
Evaluation of chronic illness Liver disease Nutritional status
What would cause Increased Levels of Albumin?
Dehydration Hyper infusion Albumin
What would cause Decreased Levels of Albumin?
Inadequate intake Liver disease Inflammation Chronic disease Losses (fistula, hemorrhage, kidney disease, burns) Over hydration Increased catabolism Congestive heart failure
Customer Reviews
Compact and complete
Excellent source for a recap of past classes. It can be essential for new nurses in the floor specially ER, ICU. I love the most the fact that they take just a few minutes and during that time frame explains the basic reasoning for the test and most importantly it’s translation in patient care.
Really wish you could expand the number of tests even though they might not necessarily be common in most institutions.
Great work and thank you for everything you’ve done so far.
Wonderful
These podcasts have been invaluable to studying for nursing school! They're encouraging and easy to understand. I can play them in the car while I'm travelling, at the gym while I'm working out, or just working around the house. Love them.
NRSNG is exactly what the "doctor" ordered!
Thank you so much for creating these podcasts, your hard work is appreciated! The NRSNG program is a tremendous gift for all future nurses, it's exactly what the "doctor" ordered! I can't wait to see you on the other side and call you my colleague. ~ FUTURE RN