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Lab Values for Nurses

Every lab a nurse checks on shift: the normal range, the critical values, causes of high and low, and exactly when to call the provider.

41 labs

CBC5

White Blood Cells4,500–11,000 /mm³›HemoglobinM 14–18 g/dL · F 12–16 g/dL›HematocritM 42–52% · F 37–47%›Platelets150,000–400,000 /mm³›Mean Corpuscular Volume80–100 fL›

BMP / Electrolytes8

Sodium136–145 mEq/L›Potassium3.5–5.0 mEq/L›Chloride98–106 mEq/L›CO₂23–30 mEq/L›Glucose70–99 mg/dL (fasting)›Calcium9.0–10.5 mg/dL›Magnesium1.3–2.1 mEq/L›Phosphorus3.0–4.5 mg/dL›

Renal3

Blood Urea Nitrogen10–20 mg/dL›CreatinineM 0.6–1.2 mg/dL · F 0.5–1.1 mg/dL›Urine Specific Gravity1.005–1.030›

Coagulation5

Prothrombin Time11–12.5 seconds›INR0.8–1.1 (no anticoagulant) · therapeutic on warfarin: usually 2.0–3.0 (2.5–3.5 mechanical valve)›aPTT30–40 s · therapeutic on heparin: typically 1.5–2.5× control (per protocol)›D-dimer< 0.4 µg/mL FEU (lab-specific)›Fibrinogen200–400 mg/dL›

Cardiac2

Troponin< 0.04 ng/mL (conventional; hs assays lab-specific)›BNP / NT-proBNPBNP < 100 pg/mL · NT-proBNP < 300 pg/mL (age-adjusted)›

ABG5

pH7.35–7.45›PaCO₂35–45 mmHg›PaO₂80–100 mmHg›HCO₃⁻22–26 mEq/L›Lactate0.5–2.2 mEq/L›

Liver6

AST10–40 U/L (values vary by lab)›ALT7–56 U/L (values vary by lab)›Alkaline Phosphatase44–147 U/L›Bilirubin0.3–1.0 mg/dL›Albumin3.5–5.0 g/dL›Ammonia10–80 µg/dL (lab-specific)›

Endocrine2

TSH0.4–4.0 mIU/L (lab-specific)›Hemoglobin A1c< 5.7% normal · 5.7–6.4% prediabetes · ≥ 6.5% diabetes · goal on treatment usually < 7%›

Drug Levels4

Digoxin level0.5–2.0 ng/mL (HF goal often 0.5–0.9)›Lithium level0.6–1.2 mEq/L (maintenance)›Vancomycin trough10–20 µg/mL (target depends on indication; AUC dosing where used)›Phenytoin level10–20 µg/mL (total; correct for low albumin)›

Inflammatory1

C-Reactive Protein< 1.0 mg/dL (< 10 mg/L)›

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Educational reference for nurses and nursing students — not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always verify against your facility's current policies, the prescriber, and pharmacy.

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