Laboratory Data

Lab Name Normal Lab Critical Lab Nursing Assessment/ Interventions Required
Values Values
NA (sodium) 136-145 mEq/L <120 or >160 Within Normal Values
mEq/L
Patient Value:
138 mEq/L

(Pagana, 2018, P. 417)

K (potassium) 3.5-5 mEq/L <3 or > 6.1 mEq/L Within Normal Values

Patient Value:
3.6 mEq/L
(Pagana, 2018, P. 369)
Cl (chloride) 98-106 mEq/L <80 or >115 Increased levels in chloride are indicated of:
mEq/L 1. Metabolic acidosis
Patient Value: 2. Renal tubular acidosis
107 mEq/L 3. Kidney dysfunction
4. Hyperparathyroidism

Make sure patient stays hydrated. Monitor I&O.

(Pagana, 2018, P. 136)

CO₂ 23-30 mEq/L <10 or >40 mEq/L Within Normal Values
(carbon dioxide)

Patient Value:
23 mEq/L

(Pagana, 2018, P. 126)

Glucose Fasting: <40 and >450 Increased levels in blood glucose are indicated of:
70-110 mg/dL mg/dL 1. Diabetes mellitus
Patient Value: 2. Chronic renal failure
165 mg/dL Casual: 3. Glucagonoma
≤200 mg/dL 4. Cushing syndrome

Monitor blood pressure. Monitor I&O. Monitor

Glucose before and after meals.

(Pagana, 2018, P. 227)

Lab Name Normal Lab Critical Lab Values Nursing Assessment/ Interventions Required
Values
BUN 10-20 mg/dL >100 mg/dL Within Normal Values
(blood urea
nitrogen)

Patient Value:
10 gm/dL (Pagana, 2018, P. 453)

Cr (Creatine) 0.5-1.1 mg/dL >4 mg/dL Within Normal Values

Patient Value:
0.5 mg/dL

(Pagana, 2018, P. 171)

Ca (calcium) 9.0-10.5 mg/dL <6 or >13 mg/dL Low levels of calcium are indicative of:
hypocalcemia due to:
Patient Value: 1. Hypoparathyroidism
8.7 mg/dL 2. Renal failure
3. Rickets
4. Vitamin D deficiency

Confirm ionized calcium levels through ordered

Labs. Get order for IV repletion if necessary.

(Pagana, 2018, P. 120)

Hct 37%-47% <21% or >65% Low levels of hematocrit are indicative of:
(hematocrit) 1. Anemia
2. Cirrhosis
Patient Value: 3. Hemorrhage
34.9% 4. Dietary deficiency

Assess the patient’s ability to tolerate physical

activity.

(Pagana, 2018, P. 248)

WBC (white 5,000- <2,000 or Increased levels of WBC are indicative of:
blood cells) 10,000/mm3 >40,000/mm3 1. Infection
2. Trauma, stress, dehydration
Patient Value:
3. Inflammation
13,400/mm3
4. Dehydration

Assess temperature of patient. Observe for signs of

 infection.

(Pagana, 2018, P. 466)

Lab Name Normal Lab Critical Lab Values Nursing Assessment/ Interventions Required
Values
Hgb 12-16 g/dL <7 or >21 g/dL Low levels of hemoglobin are indicative of:
(hemoglobin) 1. Anemia
2. Hemorrhage
Patient Value: 3. Dietary deficiency
11.9 g/dL 4. Renal disease

Assess for bleeding and the source.

(Pagana, 2018, P. 251)

Plt (platelets) 150,000- <20,000 or >1 Within Normal Values
400,000/mm3 million/mm3
Patient Value:
231,000/mm3

(Pagana, 2018, P. 362)

Magnesium 1.3-2.1 mEq/L <1 or >9 mEq/L Within Normal Values
(Mg)

Patient Value:
1.7 mEq/L

(Pagana, 2018, P. 602)