DIAGNOSTIC AND LABORATORY - The nurse provides emotional and

physical support while monitoring

EXAMINATION
the client as needed.
Clinical Instructor: Mr. Rodriguez - Ensures correct labeling, storage,
and transportation of the specimen
to avoid invalid test results.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTING PHASES:
3. Post-test
1. Pretest - Nursing care of the client and
- Client preparation. follow-up activities and
- Thorough assessment and data observations.
collection. - The nurse compares the previous
and current test results and
modifies nursing interventions as
needed.
- The nurse reports the results to
appropriate health team members.

BLOOD TESTS
1. Venipuncture (puncture of a vein for
Common Questions: collection of a blood specimen).
2. Phlebotomist, a person from a
- What type of sample will be needed
laboratory who performs venipuncture,
and how will it be collected?
usually collects the blood specimen for
- Does the client need to stop oral
the tests ordered by the primary care
intake for a certain number of hours
provider.
prior to the test?
- Does the test include administration SERUM ELECTROLYTES
of dye (contrast media) and, if so, is
it injected or swallowed? - Routinely ordered for any client
- Are fluids restricted or forced? admitted to a hospital as a
- Are medication given or withheld? screening test for electrolyte and
How long is the test? acid-base imbalance.
- Is a consent form required?
NORMAL ELECTROLYTE VALUES FOR
ADULTS
2. Intratest
- Focuses on specimen collection and
performing or assisting with certain
diagnostic testing.
- Uses standard precautions and
sterile technique as appropriate.
SERUM OSMOLALITY
- A measure of the solute
concentration of the blood.
- Normal values are 280 to 300
mOsm/kg.
- An increase in serum osmolality
indicates a fluid volume deficit.
- A decrease reflects a fluid volume
excess.
BUN (blood urea nitrogen) AND
CREATININE
CAPILLARY BLOOD GLUCOSE
- To measure urea in the blood, the
end product of protein metabolism.
(N: 7 and 20 mg/dL)
- Creatinine is produced in relatively
constant quantities by the muscles
and is excreted by the kidneys.
SPECIMEN COLLECTION AND TESTING
(N: 0.7 – 1.4 mg/dL)
DRUG MONITORING
- Often conducted when a client is
taking a medication with a narrow
therapeutic range.
- The peak level indicates the highest
concentration of the drug in the
blood serum, and the through level
represents the lowest
concentration.
BLOOD CHEMISTRY
- Includes determining certain
enzymes that may be present
(including lactic dehydrogenase
[LDH], creatine kinase [CK],
aspartate aminotransferase [AST],
and alanine aminotransferase [ALT],
serum glucose, hormones such as
thyroid hormone, and other
substances such as cholesterol and
triglycerides.
- Taken to measure the current blood
glucose level when frequent tests
are required or when a
venipuncture cannot be performed.
- Provide client comfort, privacy, and
safety.
- Explain the purpose of the
specimen collection and the
procedure for obtaining the
specimen.
- Use the correct procedure for
obtaining a specimen or ensure that
the client or staff follows the correct
procedure.
- Note relevant information on the
laboratory requisition slip, for
example, medications the client is
taking that may affect the results.
- Transport the specimen to the
laboratory promptly. Fresh
specimen provides more accurate
results.
- Report abnormal laboratory
findings to the health care provider
in a timely manner consistent with
the severity of the abnormal results.
COLLECTING STOOL SPECIMEN

FECALYSIS

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