THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
CAPSTONE COLLEGE OF NURSING
NUR 534: Fundamentals of Professional Nursing
Practice Topic: Introduction to Lab Data
Objectives: Upon successful completion of the unit of study, the student will be
able to:
1. Communicate significant lab findings to the interdisciplinary health care
team.
2. Analyze lab data to determine patient status, identify trends, and
formulate or support nursing diagnoses.
3. Identify normal lab findings or deviations from normal and intervene
appropriately
4. Conduct appropriate patient teaching regarding lab results, symptoms
to observe for, or precautions to take.
NOTE: Slight variations of normal and critical values vary among texts, reference
sources, and laboratories. The ranges listed below are called “Reference
Intervals,” which are the range o values where the laboratory can objectively
interpret the generated numbers. This interpretation includes comparing test
values against the population-based reference values. In other words, the “normal
values” mean that the obtained values are typical of those found in a specific
population at large.
The following lab values will be used for NUR 534 testing,
theory, and clinical.
Students are responsible for knowing the assigned labs by the
first day of CPL See the Topical Outline for weekly assignments.
*Reference: Skyscape Clinical **Reference: Potter &
, Test Brief Description* Normal Adult Increased Decreased
Values*
White Measures the total WBC’s bone marrow depression
Blood Cell 5000-10,000/ Infection from drugs (cancer
per cubic millimeter
Count micrograms/L chemotherapy),
(mm3) of blood.
(WBC) radiation, or disease.
Measures the
concentration of
glycosylated hemoglobin
in the blood <5% Normal (non
Hemoglobin diabetic)
Standard test for
A1C <7% Good diabetic poorly controlled diabetes not clinically
(Hgb A1C) monitoring long term
control (goal) significant
glycemic control for type 1
8-9% Fair diabetic control
and type 2 diabetes
>9% Poor diabetic
mellitus
control
The value reflects the
average blood sugar level
for the prior 2-3 months
70-110 mg/dL
Blood Measures the Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes hypoglycemia
Glucose concentration of glucose Critical values: Glucocorticoids insulin reaction
(Blood (sugar) in blood <50 mg/dL Pregnancy too little food in diabetic
sugar, 8-12 hours fasting >450 mg/dL Cushing’s Disease exercise in diabetic
Fasting required for Fasting
Blood Sugar, Blood Sugar
FBS)
Men: Conditions causing a
Complete RBC: 4.2 - 6.0 x106/mm3 loss/ destruction of
A routine serum study that
Blood HCT: 42-54%
consists of several lab values. Conditions affecting one of the RBC’s (blood loss,
Count: HGB: 14-18 g/dL parameters invariably affects the anemia, bone marrow
(CBC)
Measures the number of other two. suppression, decreased
Women:
Red Blood RBC’s production of RBC) will
/mm3 in the blood RBC: 4.2 - 5.4 x106/mm3 Polycythemia, affect all three
Cell Count
HCT: 37-47% Erythropoietin (all three parameters
(RBC)
measures the percent, by HGB: 12-16 g/dL parameters )
volume, of RBC’s in whole Pregnancy (dilutional;
Hematoc
blood *If RBC and HGB are affects all three
rit (HCT, A loss of body fluids can
normal, the HCT is about 3
*Reference: Skyscape Clinical **Reference: Potter &
CAPSTONE COLLEGE OF NURSING
NUR 534: Fundamentals of Professional Nursing
Practice Topic: Introduction to Lab Data
Objectives: Upon successful completion of the unit of study, the student will be
able to:
1. Communicate significant lab findings to the interdisciplinary health care
team.
2. Analyze lab data to determine patient status, identify trends, and
formulate or support nursing diagnoses.
3. Identify normal lab findings or deviations from normal and intervene
appropriately
4. Conduct appropriate patient teaching regarding lab results, symptoms
to observe for, or precautions to take.
NOTE: Slight variations of normal and critical values vary among texts, reference
sources, and laboratories. The ranges listed below are called “Reference
Intervals,” which are the range o values where the laboratory can objectively
interpret the generated numbers. This interpretation includes comparing test
values against the population-based reference values. In other words, the “normal
values” mean that the obtained values are typical of those found in a specific
population at large.
The following lab values will be used for NUR 534 testing,
theory, and clinical.
Students are responsible for knowing the assigned labs by the
first day of CPL See the Topical Outline for weekly assignments.
*Reference: Skyscape Clinical **Reference: Potter &
, Test Brief Description* Normal Adult Increased Decreased
Values*
White Measures the total WBC’s bone marrow depression
Blood Cell 5000-10,000/ Infection from drugs (cancer
per cubic millimeter
Count micrograms/L chemotherapy),
(mm3) of blood.
(WBC) radiation, or disease.
Measures the
concentration of
glycosylated hemoglobin
in the blood <5% Normal (non
Hemoglobin diabetic)
Standard test for
A1C <7% Good diabetic poorly controlled diabetes not clinically
(Hgb A1C) monitoring long term
control (goal) significant
glycemic control for type 1
8-9% Fair diabetic control
and type 2 diabetes
>9% Poor diabetic
mellitus
control
The value reflects the
average blood sugar level
for the prior 2-3 months
70-110 mg/dL
Blood Measures the Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes hypoglycemia
Glucose concentration of glucose Critical values: Glucocorticoids insulin reaction
(Blood (sugar) in blood <50 mg/dL Pregnancy too little food in diabetic
sugar, 8-12 hours fasting >450 mg/dL Cushing’s Disease exercise in diabetic
Fasting required for Fasting
Blood Sugar, Blood Sugar
FBS)
Men: Conditions causing a
Complete RBC: 4.2 - 6.0 x106/mm3 loss/ destruction of
A routine serum study that
Blood HCT: 42-54%
consists of several lab values. Conditions affecting one of the RBC’s (blood loss,
Count: HGB: 14-18 g/dL parameters invariably affects the anemia, bone marrow
(CBC)
Measures the number of other two. suppression, decreased
Women:
Red Blood RBC’s production of RBC) will
/mm3 in the blood RBC: 4.2 - 5.4 x106/mm3 Polycythemia, affect all three
Cell Count
HCT: 37-47% Erythropoietin (all three parameters
(RBC)
measures the percent, by HGB: 12-16 g/dL parameters )
volume, of RBC’s in whole Pregnancy (dilutional;
Hematoc
blood *If RBC and HGB are affects all three
rit (HCT, A loss of body fluids can
normal, the HCT is about 3
*Reference: Skyscape Clinical **Reference: Potter &
