Lab values & electrolytes worksheet with answers

Which gland produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)?

1. AThe adrenal cortex
2. BThe anterior pituitary gland
3. CThe thyroid gland itself
4. DThe parathyroid glands

What does the red cell distribution width (RDW) describe?

1. AHow many red cells are young cells
2. BHow much the red cells vary in size
3. CHow long red cells survive in the blood
4. DHow fast the red cells settle in a tube

Why is prealbumin (transthyretin) sometimes used to follow a patient's nutritional status instead of albumin?

1. AIt has a short half-life, so it changes within days
2. BIt is measured in urine, so no blood test is needed
3. CIt has a long half-life, so it changes over months
4. DIt is not affected by inflammation or liver disease

The laboratory phones the ward with a critical potassium result of 6.9 mEq/L. What should the nurse do?

1. ARead back the value, assess the patient and inform the provider
2. BRecord the value and hand it over to the next shift
3. CAsk the laboratory to repeat the test before telling anyone
4. DWait for the written report to arrive before taking any action at all

A patient with chronic kidney disease has a potassium of 5.6 mEq/L. Which food should the nurse advise the patient to limit?

1. ACabbage
2. BWhite rice
3. CApples
4. DBananas

A patient on warfarin started eating large daily portions of kale and spinach. The INR has fallen. What advice is most appropriate?

1. AKeep the intake of vitamin K–rich foods steady from day to day
2. BStop warfarin until the diet is normal
3. CNever eat green vegetables again
4. DDouble the warfarin dose without telling the prescriber

The nurse teaches a patient with iron-deficiency anemia who is starting oral iron. Which statement shows a need for further teaching?

1. A"My stools may look darker while I take the tablets"
2. B"I'll keep the tablets out of reach of the children"
3. C"I'll take my iron tablet with a big glass of milk"
4. D"I can take it with orange juice to help absorption"

A nursing student has a positive interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) for tuberculosis, no symptoms and a normal chest X-ray. What does this most likely mean?

1. APast BCG vaccination only, with no infection
2. BLatent TB infection, which is not contagious
3. CA false result, as the test does not detect TB
4. DActive pulmonary TB, which is contagious