Question 1

An older patient is having a serum transferrin level drawn. What will this laboratory value assess?
A) Fat stores
B) Protein stores
C) Carbohydrates
D) Vitamin levels

Accepted Answer

Serum transferrin level is a measure of protein stores in the body, specifically related to iron transport.

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.
A) Vicodin
B) Penicillin
C) Furosemide
D) Indomethacin
E) Quinidine sulfate

Accepted Answer

B,C,D,E

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?
A) Increased folic acid
B) No change in levels
C) Decreased phenytoin serum levels
D) Abnormal increase in serum phenytoin levels

Accepted Answer

Tagamet (cimetidine) can inhibit the metabolism of phenytoin, leading to increased serum levels of phenytoin.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Increased alkaline phosphatase can be associated with osteoporosis as it is an enzyme related to bone turnover. When bones are being broken down more than they are being built up, as in osteoporosis, alkaline phosphatase levels can increase.

Question 5

The nurse needs to collect a random urine specimen from an older patient. How many mL of urine should the nurse collect?
A) 10 mL
B) 30 mL
C) 240 mL
D) 24-hour urine specimen

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse needs to collect a random...

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is C) Potassium level 2.5 mEq/L. This is because both furosemide (a loop diuretic) and digoxin can lead to hypokalemia (low potassium levels). A potassium level of 2.5 mEq/L is significantly lower than the normal range (approximately 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L), which can increase the risk of digoxin toxicity and cardiac arrhythmias.

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?
A) Diabetes
B) Heart failure
C) Diverticulitis
D) Temporal arteritis

Accepted Answer

Temporal arteritis often presents with a significantly elevated ESR, commonly above 50 mm/hr, which is a hallmark of this condition. It is an inflammation of the temporal arteries and can lead to serious complications if not treated promptly.

Question 8

An older patient has a blood glucose level of 64 mg/dL. Which medication could be causing this low blood glucose level?
A) Digoxin
B) Phenytoin
C) Furosemide
D) Beta blocker

Accepted Answer

Beta blockers can mask the symptoms of hypoglycemia and in some cases may also contribute to lower blood glucose levels, especially in patients with diabetes who are taking insulin or other medications that lower blood sugar.

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?
A) The same
B) Increased
C) Decreased
D) Subject to fluctuations

Accepted Answer

The bioavailability of liquid digoxin is higher than that of oral pills, so the dosage would need to be decreased to achieve the same therapeutic effect.

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?
A) "A lack of phosphate can lead to renal failure."
B) "Too much phosphate in the body can cause renal failure."
C) "The kidneys use phosphate to ensure adequate functioning."
D) "The kidneys regulate phosphate excretion to maintain a balance with serum calcium."

Accepted Answer

The kidneys play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of electrolytes, including phosphate. In renal failure, the kidneys' ability to excrete phosphate is impaired, leading to altered phosphorus levels. This is because the kidneys regulate phosphate excretion to maintain a balance with serum calcium, a process that is disrupted in renal failure.

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?
A) Nothing
B) Scheduled for a chest x-ray
C) Repeated test in 1 to 2 weeks
D) Started on antituberculosis medication

Accepted Answer

A positive tuberculin skin test indicates that the person has been exposed to tuberculosis bacteria. A chest x-ray is not necessary unless the person has symptoms of tuberculosis. Anti-tuberculosis medication is not started unless the person has active tuberculosis.

Question 12

An older patient has a low hemoglobin level. What should the nurse expect to assess in this patient?
A) Fatigue
B) Peripheral edema
C) Low urine output
D) Elevated blood pressure

Accepted Answer

Fatigue is a common symptom of low hemoglobin levels due to the reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, leading to decreased oxygen availability to tissues and organs.

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?
A) Digoxin
B) Penicillin
C) Metformin
D) Theophylline

Accepted Answer

Metformin, commonly used for type 2 diabetes, can cause malabsorption of vitamin B12, leading to its deficiency. Folic acid levels can also be affected indirectly due to alterations in the homocysteine cycle.

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?
A) Serum sodium
B) Serum calcium
C) Serum creatinine
D) Serum potassium

Accepted Answer

Serum creatinine is a key indicator of kidney function, and an increase in its levels can suggest a decline in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), reflecting reduced kidney efficiency in filtering waste products from the blood.

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?
A) Serum protein
B) Creatinine kinase (CK) II
C) Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
D) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

Accepted Answer

Serum protein levels are not typically affected by a myocardial infarction (MI). MI primarily affects cardiac biomarkers such as Creatinine kinase (CK) II (also known as CK-MB), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and others, but not the general serum protein levels.

Quiz 21: Laboratory Values

An older patient is having a serum transferrin level drawn. What will this laboratory value assess?

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.

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?

An older patient is being evaluated for osteoporosis. Which laboratory finding should the nurse anticipate being found in this patient?

The nurse needs to collect a random urine specimen from an older patient. How many mL of urine should the nurse collect?

An older patient is currently taking furosemide and digoxin. Which laboratory value should be of concern to the nurse?

An older patient's erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is 60 mm/hr. What health problem should the nurse suspect is occurring in this patient?

An older patient has a blood glucose level of 64 mg/dL. Which medication could be causing this low blood glucose level?

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?

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?

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?

An older patient has a low hemoglobin level. What should the nurse expect to assess in this patient?

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?

The nurse notes that an older patient's glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is declining. Which serum laboratory value should the nurse review for alterations?

A patient is being evaluated for a myocardial infarction (MI) . What laboratory value is least likely to be affected by this health problem?