Prep-U: Interpretation of Lab Studies

The nurse recognizes that test results that most likely indicate a urinary tract infection include:

WBC 50 pg. 1607

A client who had a prosthetic valve replacement was taking warfarin to reduce the risk of postoperative thrombosis. The client visited the nurse at a clinic once a week. What INR level would alert the nurse to notify the health care provider?

3.8 pg.775

The clinic nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with leukopenia. What does the nurse know this client has?

A general reduction in all white blood cells pg. 951

A nurse is caring for a client receiving warfarin therapy following a mechanical valve replacement. The client had a prothrombin time and International Normalized Ratio (INR) drawn before breakfast. The laboratory report shows the client's INR reading was 4. What is the nurse's first priority ?

Assess the client for bleeding and notify the health care provider of the results. pg.775

The nurse is caring for a client being treated with isotonic IV fluid for hypernatremia. What complication of hypernatremia should the nurse continuously monitor for?

Cerebral edema pg.242

A client's blood glucose level is 45 mg/dl. The nurse should be alert for which signs and symptoms?

Coma, anxiety, confusion, headache, and cool, moist skin pg.1512

The following appears on the medical record of a male patient receiving parenteral nutrition: WBC: 6500/cu mm Potassium 4.3 mEq/L Magnesium 2.0 mg/dL Calcium 8.8 mg/dL Glucose 190 mg/dL

Glucose level pg.1246

A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Which finding suggests that the client has developed hyperglycemia?

Increased urine output

A client is admitted to the emergency department with reports right lower quadrant pain. Blood specimens are drawn and sent to the laboratory. Which laboratory finding should be reported to the health care provider immediately?

White blood cell (WBC) count 22.8/mm3 pg. 1299

A client reporting shortness of breath is admitted with a diagnosis of cirrhosis. A nursing assessment reveals an enlarged abdomen with striae, an umbilical hernia, and 4+ pitting edema of the feet and legs. What is the most important data for the nurse to monitor?

Albumin pg. 1372

A nurse is caring for a client with metastatic breast cancer who is extremely lethargic and very slow to respond to stimuli. The laboratory report indicates a serum calcium level of 12.0 mg/dl, a serum potassium level of 3.9 mEq/L, a serum chloride level of 101 mEq/L, and a serum sodium level of 140 mEq/L. Based on this information, the nurse determines that the client's symptoms are most likely associated with which electrolyte imbalance?

Hypercalcemia pg.248

A client with chronic kidney disease becomes confused and reports abdominal cramping, racing heart rate, and numbness of the extremities. The nurse relates these symptoms to which lab value?

Hyperkalemia pg.1568

A surgical nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative day 1 following a thyroidectomy. The client reports tingling in the lips and fingers. The client also reports an intermittent spasm in the wrist and hand and exhibits increased muscle tone. Which electrolyte imbalance should the nurse first suspect?

Hypocalcemia pg.248

A client who is HIV positive is experiencing severe diarrhea. Which laboratory test result would the nurse expect to find?

Hypokalemia pg. 1031

An elderly client takes 40 mg of furosemide twice a day. Which electrolyte imbalance is the most serious adverse effect of diuretic use?

Hypokalemia pg. 237

A nurse expects to find which signs and symptoms in a client experiencing hypoglycemia?

Nervousness, diaphoresis, and confusion pg. 1512

A 64-year-old client is brought in to the clinic with thirsty, dry, sticky mucous membranes, decreased urine output, fever, a rough tongue, and lethargy. Serum sodium level is above 145 mEq/L. Should the nurse start salt tablets when caring for this client?

No, sodium intake should be restricted. pg. 241-242

A client with diabetes mellitus has a prescription for 5 units of U-100 regular insulin and 25 units of U-100 isophane insulin suspension (NPH) to be taken before breakfast. At about 4:30 p.m., the client experiences headache, sweating, tremor, pallor, and nervousness. What is the most probable cause of these signs and symptoms?

Serum glucose level of 52 mg/dl pg. 1511

A client has chronic hyponatremia, which requires weekly laboratory monitoring to prevent the client lapsing into convulsions or a coma. What is the level of serum sodium at which a client can experience these side effects?

114 mEq/L pg.240

A client who is semiconscious presents with restlessness and weakness. The nurse assesses a dry, swollen tongue; body temperature of 99.3 °F; and a urine specific gravity of 1.020. What is the most likely serum sodium value for this client?

165 mEq/L pg.242

A nurse is assigned to care for a patient with ascites, secondary to cirrhosis. The nurse understands that the fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity results from a combination of factors including an alteration in oncotic pressure gradients and increased capillary permeability. Therefore, the nurse monitors the serum level of the plasma protein responsible for maintaining oncotic pressure, which is:

Albumin pg.890

A home care nurse assesses for disease complications in a client with bone cancer. Which laboratory value may indicate the presence of a disease complication?

Calcium level of 11.6 mg/dl pg. 1145-1147

The nurse is preparing to administer warfarin to a client with deep vein thrombophlebitis (DVT). Which laboratory value would most clearly indicate that the client's warfarin is at therapeutic levels?

International normalized ratio (INR) between 2 and 3 pg.848

An adult client is brought in to the clinic feeling thirsty with dry, sticky mucous membranes; decreased urine output; fever; a rough tongue; and lethargy. The nurse reconciles the client's medication list and notes that salt tablets had been prescribed. What would the nurse do next?

Consider sodium restriction with discontinuation of salt tablets. pg.239

An older adult has been experiencing severe Clostridium difficile-related diarrhea. When reviewing the client's most recent laboratory tests, the nurse should prioritize which of the following?

Potassium level pg. 1291