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

Which condition commonly causes a high serum potassium?

  1. ASevere diarrhea
  2. BKidney failure
  3. CLoop diuretic use
  4. DRepeated vomiting
2.Easy

A patient who has not eaten for 2 days has ketones in the urine. What is the most likely reason?

  1. AThe body is burning fat for energy
  2. BThe bladder has a bacterial infection
  3. CThe liver is making too much glucose
  4. DThe kidneys are leaking protein
3.Easy

Which body system shows the main symptoms of a low serum sodium?

  1. AThe skeleton
  2. BThe nervous system
  3. CThe skin and hair
  4. DThe eyes only
4.Medium

A patient is starting dabigatran, a direct oral anticoagulant. Which laboratory test is most important to review before the first dose?

  1. ATSH, to rule out an overactive thyroid gland
  2. BINR, to set the dose of the anticoagulant
  3. CKidney function (creatinine clearance)
  4. DLipase, to rule out an inflamed pancreas first
5.Medium

A patient taking empagliflozin (an SGLT2 inhibitor) has glucose in the urine but a normal blood glucose. What is the best interpretation?

  1. AA urinary tract infection
  2. BA sign of kidney failure
  3. CUncontrolled diabetes needing insulin
  4. DAn expected effect of the drug
6.Medium

When do the blood counts usually reach their lowest point (nadir) after many standard chemotherapy regimens?

  1. AAbout 7–14 days after treatment
  2. BOn the same day as treatment
  3. CAbout 6 months after treatment
  4. DWithin 1–2 hours of treatment
7.Hard

A lithium level of 1.0 mEq/L was drawn 2 hours after the patient’s morning dose, and the prescriber plans to raise the dose. What should the nurse point out?

  1. AThe level is toxic, so lithium should be stopped for good
  2. BLithium levels can be drawn at any time of day without affecting the result
  3. CThe level is too low, so a large increase is clearly safe
  4. DThe sample was taken too soon after the dose, so it is not a valid level
8.Hard

A patient has painless jaundice, itching, dark urine and pale stools. ALP is markedly raised, conjugated (direct) bilirubin is high and ALT is only mildly raised. What is the most likely cause?

  1. AIncreased breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia)
  2. BAcute viral hepatitis with widespread liver cell damage
  3. CGilbert syndrome, a harmless inherited bilirubin disorder
  4. DBlockage of bile flow, for example by a tumor in the bile duct

Answer key

  1. 1. B · Kidney failure
  2. 2. A · The body is burning fat for energy
  3. 3. B · The nervous system
  4. 4. C · Kidney function (creatinine clearance)
  5. 5. D · An expected effect of the drug
  6. 6. A · About 7–14 days after treatment
  7. 7. D · The sample was taken too soon after the dose, so it is not a valid level
  8. 8. D · Blockage of bile flow, for example by a tumor in the bile duct

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