Deck 21: Laboratory Values

Question 1

An older patient is having a serum transferrin level drawn. What will this laboratory value assess?
1) Fat stores
2) Protein stores
3) Carbohydrates
4) Vitamin levels

Answer 1

2

Question 2

The nurse notes that an older patient has a low platelet count. Which medication should the nurse suspect is causing this laboratory value? Select all that apply.
1) Vicodin
2) Penicillin
3) Furosemide
4) Indomethacin
5) Quinidine sulfate

Answer 2

2, 3, 4, 5

Question 3

An older patient takes phenytoin for seizure activity, isoniazid for tuberculosis, aspirin for arthritis, and Tagamet for ulcers. What should the nurse expect to assess in 1 month?
1) Increased folic acid
2) No change in levels
3) Decreased phenytoin serum levels
4) Abnormal increase in serum phenytoin levels

Answer 3

4

Question 4

An older patient is being evaluated for osteoporosis. Which laboratory finding should the nurse anticipate being found in this patient?
1) Increased calcium
2) Increased alkaline phosphatase
3) Decreased white blood cell count
4) Increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

Question 5

The nurse needs to collect a random urine specimen from an older patient. How many mL of urine should the nurse collect?
1) 10 mL
2) 30 mL
3) 240 mL
4) 24-hour urine specimen

Question 6

An older patient is currently taking furosemide and digoxin. Which laboratory value should be of concern to the nurse?
1) Digoxin level 1.0 mg/mL
2) Sodium level 140 mEq/L
3) Potassium level 2.5 mEq/L
4) Potassium level 4.0 mEq/L

Question 7

An older patient's erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is 60 mm/hr. What health problem should the nurse suspect is occurring in this patient?
1) Diabetes
2) Heart failure
3) Diverticulitis
4) Temporal arteritis

Question 8

An older patient has a blood glucose level of 64 mg/dL. Which medication could be causing this low blood glucose level?
1) Digoxin
2) Phenytoin
3) Furosemide
4) Beta blocker

Question 9

The pharmacy has converted all oral pills to liquid form for an older patient who is no longer able to swallow pills. What change would have been made to this patient's digoxin?
1) The same
2) Increased
3) Decreased
4) Subject to fluctuations

Question 10

An older patient with renal failure has a change in serum phosphate level. What should the nurse explain as being the reason for the altered phosphorus level?
1) "A lack of phosphate can lead to renal failure."
2) "Too much phosphate in the body can cause renal failure."
3) "The kidneys use phosphate to ensure adequate functioning."
4) "The kidneys regulate phosphate excretion to maintain a balance with serum calcium."

Question 11

A nursing home resident has a 4-mm area of induration after receiving the intradermal tuberculin solution. What should the nurse anticipate being planned for this patient?
1) Nothing
2) Scheduled for a chest x-ray
3) Repeated test in 1 to 2 weeks
4) Started on antituberculosis medication

Question 12

An older patient has a low hemoglobin level. What should the nurse expect to assess in this patient?
1) Fatigue
2) Peripheral edema
3) Low urine output
4) Elevated blood pressure

Question 13

An older patient is diagnosed with low vitamin B12 and folic acid levels. Which medication could be causing this alteration in the patient's values?
1) Digoxin
2) Penicillin
3) Metformin
4) Theophylline

Question 14

The nurse notes that an older patient's glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is declining. Which serum laboratory value should the nurse review for alterations?
1) Serum sodium
2) Serum calcium
3) Serum creatinine
4) Serum potassium

Question 15

A patient is being evaluated for a myocardial infarction (MI). What laboratory value is least likely to be affected by this health problem?
1) Serum protein
2) Creatinine kinase (CK) II
3) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
4) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)