Tag: Lab values

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and nutrients. A nurse reviewing patient lab work is a critical step in a thorough nutritional assessment, and certain values provide rapid insight into a patient's nutritional status.

According to the National Institutes of Health, malnutrition affects a significant portion of hospitalized patients, highlighting its clinical importance. So, what lab value do you expect to be low in someone who has malnutrition? The answer involves a multi-faceted view of a patient's protein, nutrient, and overall inflammatory status.

Over 99% of the body's total calcium is stored in the bones and teeth, with the remaining circulating in the blood to perform critical functions. Learning how to remember calcium normal range is crucial for healthcare students and professionals, and this guide provides memory aids to make it easy.

The human body relies on a delicate balance of electrolytes, often measured in milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L), for proper function. Interpreting these lab values, however, requires understanding what 1 mEq/L is equal to in other units, as this value is not constant and depends on the specific substance being measured.

Refeeding syndrome is a potentially fatal condition that occurs when a severely malnourished individual begins receiving nutrition, causing rapid and dangerous shifts in fluids and electrolytes. The sudden increase in insulin secretion forces glucose and minerals into cells, rapidly depleting already low stores and leading to critical lab value changes.

Malnutrition is a global health challenge, with nearly half of all deaths among children under five linked to undernutrition. While physical signs are often obvious, a complete nutritional assessment, including blood tests, is essential for an accurate diagnosis. Healthcare professionals rely on a variety of bloodwork to show malnutrition, helping them pinpoint specific deficiencies and formulate an effective treatment plan.