Need to Know Facts for Nursing Students
ASSESSMENTS: What will your patient look/sound like if they have…
Airway problem?
Breathing problem?
Circulation problem?
VITAL SIGNS:
Vital sign Normal range
Blood pressure 90-120 (systolic
60-90 (diastolic)
temperature 97.6-98.6 (oral),
98.6-99.6 (rectal)
96.6-97.6 (axillary)
respiratory 12 –20 breaths per minut
Heart rate/ pulse 60-100 beats per minut
SpO2/ Pulse ox/ O2 sa 90-100%
If 100% on oxygen reduce it.
American Heart Association Blood Pressure Ranges
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, DIGNOSTIC STUDIES:
Lab Normal Range Abnormal Finding
Complete Blood Coun(CBC
WBC 5 –10× 109/L ↑ = inflammation or infectio
↓ = decreased ability to fight infection
Plts 9
150 – 400 × 10 /L ↓ = less material to create clot > bleed ea
↑ = could indicate cancer
RBC Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/m # of RBCs in seru
Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcL ↓ = anemia (body is not making/destroying RBCs) or
bleeding
Hgb Female:12 – 16 g/dL Part of RBC that carries2 to all cells in bod
Male: 14 – 18 g/dL ↓ = ↓ oxygenation to cells (fatigue, dyspnea)
Hct Female: 37 – 47 % % of blood volume that contains RB
Male: 42 – 52 % ↓ = ↓ % volume of RBCs in blood
Differential
Neutrophils 55 – 75 % Bodies primary defense against bacterial infecor
(segs + bands) physiologic stress
↑ = acute bacterial infection
↓ = virus/depleted immune system
Segs 55 – 70 % Mature neutrophils
↑ = acute bacterial infection
Bands 0 –8 % Immature neutrophil
↑ = acute bacterial infection
ANC > 1,500 ↓ = immune system unable to fight infect
(absolute neutrophil ANC = (% neutrophils + % bands) x WBC
count) 100
Eosinophil 1 –4 % ↑ = Allergic reactio, parasites
Metabolic Pane(BMP/CMP
Na+ 136 – 145 mEq/ Fluid balanc2
↓ = swelling of cells > CNS problems3
K+ 3.5 – 5 mEq/L Fluid balanc, muscle, and nerv function2
↓ = Heart arrhythmia, muscle cramps, fatigue3
↑ = Heart arrhythmia/palpitations, muscle weakness,
diarrhea3
Ca+ 9 –10.5 mg/dL Bone strength muscleand nervefunction2
↓ = tetany (+Trousseau, + Chvostek), numbness3
↑ = emotional lability, confusion3
Mg+ 1.3 – 2.1 mEq/ Muscleand nerve function, blood sugar and B
regulation2
↓ = tetany, personality change3
↑ = respiratory depression, hypotension, cardiac
arrest (torsades)3
*If ↓Mg AND ↓K+ GIVE Mg FIRST*
Glucose Fasting1: 70 – 100 mg/dL ↑ = diabetes1, stress, steroid
Diabetic < 130 mg/dL
90 min after eating: 100 – 140 mg/dL
Diabetic < 180
AST/SGOT 0 –35 U/L ↑ = inflammation/damage to liver↓ liver function
(may see jaundice, lethargy)
ALT/SGPT 4 –36 U/L ↑ = inflammation/damage to liver↓ liver function
(may see jaundice, lethargy)
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ASSESSMENTS: What will your patient look/sound like if they have…
Airway problem?
Breathing problem?
Circulation problem?
VITAL SIGNS:
Vital sign Normal range
Blood pressure 90-120 (systolic
60-90 (diastolic)
temperature 97.6-98.6 (oral),
98.6-99.6 (rectal)
96.6-97.6 (axillary)
respiratory 12 –20 breaths per minut
Heart rate/ pulse 60-100 beats per minut
SpO2/ Pulse ox/ O2 sa 90-100%
If 100% on oxygen reduce it.
American Heart Association Blood Pressure Ranges
Page 1 of 11
, DIGNOSTIC STUDIES:
Lab Normal Range Abnormal Finding
Complete Blood Coun(CBC
WBC 5 –10× 109/L ↑ = inflammation or infectio
↓ = decreased ability to fight infection
Plts 9
150 – 400 × 10 /L ↓ = less material to create clot > bleed ea
↑ = could indicate cancer
RBC Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/m # of RBCs in seru
Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells/mcL ↓ = anemia (body is not making/destroying RBCs) or
bleeding
Hgb Female:12 – 16 g/dL Part of RBC that carries2 to all cells in bod
Male: 14 – 18 g/dL ↓ = ↓ oxygenation to cells (fatigue, dyspnea)
Hct Female: 37 – 47 % % of blood volume that contains RB
Male: 42 – 52 % ↓ = ↓ % volume of RBCs in blood
Differential
Neutrophils 55 – 75 % Bodies primary defense against bacterial infecor
(segs + bands) physiologic stress
↑ = acute bacterial infection
↓ = virus/depleted immune system
Segs 55 – 70 % Mature neutrophils
↑ = acute bacterial infection
Bands 0 –8 % Immature neutrophil
↑ = acute bacterial infection
ANC > 1,500 ↓ = immune system unable to fight infect
(absolute neutrophil ANC = (% neutrophils + % bands) x WBC
count) 100
Eosinophil 1 –4 % ↑ = Allergic reactio, parasites
Metabolic Pane(BMP/CMP
Na+ 136 – 145 mEq/ Fluid balanc2
↓ = swelling of cells > CNS problems3
K+ 3.5 – 5 mEq/L Fluid balanc, muscle, and nerv function2
↓ = Heart arrhythmia, muscle cramps, fatigue3
↑ = Heart arrhythmia/palpitations, muscle weakness,
diarrhea3
Ca+ 9 –10.5 mg/dL Bone strength muscleand nervefunction2
↓ = tetany (+Trousseau, + Chvostek), numbness3
↑ = emotional lability, confusion3
Mg+ 1.3 – 2.1 mEq/ Muscleand nerve function, blood sugar and B
regulation2
↓ = tetany, personality change3
↑ = respiratory depression, hypotension, cardiac
arrest (torsades)3
*If ↓Mg AND ↓K+ GIVE Mg FIRST*
Glucose Fasting1: 70 – 100 mg/dL ↑ = diabetes1, stress, steroid
Diabetic < 130 mg/dL
90 min after eating: 100 – 140 mg/dL
Diabetic < 180
AST/SGOT 0 –35 U/L ↑ = inflammation/damage to liver↓ liver function
(may see jaundice, lethargy)
ALT/SGPT 4 –36 U/L ↑ = inflammation/damage to liver↓ liver function
(may see jaundice, lethargy)
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