Lab values & electrolytes worksheet with answers

Free printable Lab values & electrolytes worksheet: 8 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy

What is the commonly cited therapeutic range for serum digoxin?

  1. AAbout 0.05–0.2 ng/mL
  2. BAbout 10–20 ng/mL
  3. CAbout 0.5–2.0 ng/mL
  4. DAbout 20–40 ng/mL
2.Easy

Which HbA1c value meets the usual diagnostic threshold for diabetes?

  1. A4.5% (26 mmol/mol) or higher
  2. B5.5% (37 mmol/mol) or higher
  3. C6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or higher
  4. D5.0% (31 mmol/mol) or higher
3.Easy

Lactate is mainly produced when cells:

  1. ABreak down fat completely with oxygen
  2. BBreak down glucose without enough oxygen
  3. CStore glucose as glycogen in the muscles
  4. DBreak down protein in the liver for energy
4.Medium

How does the nurse start a 24-hour urine collection at 08:00?

  1. AHave the patient void and discard that urine, then save all urine until 08:00 the next day
  2. BSave the 08:00 urine as the first sample, then collect until 08:00 the next day
  3. CSave three samples spread across the day and discard all of the urine passed at night
  4. DCollect only the first urine passed on waking, and repeat this the next morning
5.Medium

A conscious patient with a blood glucose of 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) has taken 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate. When should the glucose be rechecked?

  1. AAfter about 15 minutes
  2. BAt the next meal
  3. CAfter about 2 hours
  4. DThe next morning
6.Medium

A patient taking spironolactone asks about using a salt substitute. What should the nurse explain?

  1. ASalt substitutes protect against the potassium loss caused by this drug
  2. BSalt substitutes are fine as long as the patient drinks more water
  3. CSalt substitutes are safe because they contain only sodium chloride
  4. DMost salt substitutes contain potassium and can raise the level too high
7.Hard

Three days after starting haloperidol, a patient has a temperature of 40 °C, severe muscle rigidity and confusion. Which laboratory result would the nurse expect?

  1. AA very high creatine kinase (CK)
  2. BA very high serum lithium
  3. CA very low white cell count
  4. DA very low serum sodium
8.Hard

A patient with acute pancreatitis has a rising BUN, a falling calcium and a glucose of 250 mg/dL (13.9 mmol/L) over the first 48 hours. What do these results suggest?

  1. AAn unrelated new kidney stone
  2. BIncreasingly severe pancreatitis
  3. CA lab error from lipemic samples
  4. DA resolving, mild pancreatitis

Answer key

  1. 1. C · About 0.5–2.0 ng/mL
  2. 2. C · 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or higher
  3. 3. B · Break down glucose without enough oxygen
  4. 4. A · Have the patient void and discard that urine, then save all urine until 08:00 the next day
  5. 5. A · After about 15 minutes
  6. 6. D · Most salt substitutes contain potassium and can raise the level too high
  7. 7. A · A very high creatine kinase (CK)
  8. 8. B · Increasingly severe pancreatitis

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