The fast, fun, and easy way to get up to speed on the medical tests nurses need to know!

Nursing Laboratory & Diagnostic Tests Demystified, Second Edition offers a clear, step-by-step blueprint to understanding the laboratory and diagnostic tests most often performed by nurses. You will learn what each test is, why it is ordered, how it is performed, how patients should prepare, how long it takes to get the results, how to interpret the results, and what the nursing implications are. Topics are presented in a logical learn-as-you-go sequence, building on what you've learned, and you'll be able to test your knowledge with chapter-ending questions and a comprehensive final exam.

This self-teaching guide shows you how to confidently perform:

Hematology Tests

Electrolyte Tests

Arterial Blood Gases Tests

Liver Blood Tests

Cardiac Enzyme and Markers Tests

Serologic Tests

Endocrine Tests

Tumor Markers

Pregnancy, Infertility, and Genetic Tests

Simple X-Ray Imaging

Computed Tomography (CT, CAT) Scan

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan

Ultrasound Scan

Cardiovascular Tests and Procedures

Female and Maternity Tests and Procedures

Tests for Males

Lung, Chest, Abdominal, Urinary Tract Tests and Procedures

Skin, Muscle, and Bone Tests

Sinus, Ears, Nose, Throat Tests and Procedures

Vision Tests and Procedures

Nursing Laboratory & Diagnostic Tests Demystified, Second Edition is essential reading for anyone preparing for the NCLEX® or for nurses who want to brush-up on the tests they will most likely to be asked to perform.

Jim Keogh is on the faculty of Columbia University teaching courses in its technology certification program. He has spent 15 years developing computer systems for major Wall Street firms such as Salomen, Inc. and Bear Stearns and has written several best-selling books for Prentice Hall and IDG.

Introduction

CHAPTER 1

Hematology Tests
How to Collect Blood Specimen from a Vein
How to Collect Blood Specimen from a Heel Stick
How to Collect Blood Specimen from a Finger Stick
Blood Type Test 5 Partial Thromboplastin Time
Total Serum Protein
Blood Alcohol
Lead
Serum Osmolality
Uric Acid in Blood
C-Reactive Protein
Complete Blood Count
Chemistry Screen
Vitamin B12
Cold Agglutinins
Toxicology Tests (Tox Screen)
Folic Acid
Gastrin
Ferritin
Lactic Acid
Prothrombin Time
Reticulocyte Count
Schilling Test
Sedimentation Rate
Iron
Serum Protein Electrophoresis
Summary
CHAPTER 2

Electrolytes
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphate
Potassium
Sodium
Chloride
Summary
CHAPTER 3

Arterial Blood Gases Test
Arterial Blood Gases
Total Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Summary
CHAPTER 4

Liver Tests
Hepatitis A Virus Test
Hepatitis B Virus Tests
Alanine Aminotransferase
Alkaline Phosphatase
Ammonia
Aspartate Aminotransferase
Bilirubin
Summary
CHAPTER 5

Cardiac Enzymes and Markers Tests
Brain Natriuretic Peptide Test
Cardiac Enzyme Studies
Homocysteine
Renin Assay
Summary
CHAPTER 6

Serologic Tests
Immunoglobulins
Antinuclear Antibodies
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Tests
CD4+ Count
Viral Load Measurement
Rheumatoid Factor
Summary
CHAPTER 7

Endocrine Tests
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Cortisol
Overnight Dexamethasone Suppression Test
Aldosterone in Blood
Cortisol in Blood
Estrogens
Growth Hormone
Luteinizing Hormone
Parathyroid Hormone
Thyroid Hormone Tests
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone
Testosterone
Summary
CHAPTER 8

Glucose Tests
C-peptide
D-xylose Absorption Test
Blood Glucose
Glycohemoglobin
Summary
CHAPTER 9

Tumor Markers
Cancer Antigen 125 (CA-125)
Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Prostate-Specifi c Antigen
Summary
CHAPTER 10

Pregnancy and Genetic Tests
Antisperm Antibody Test
a-Fetoprotein
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
Inhibin A Test
Prolactin
Phenylketonuria Test
Tay-Sachs Test
Sickle Cell Test
Hemochromatosis Gene Test
Summary
CHAPTER 11

Tests for Infection
Antibody Tests
Blood Culture
Mononucleosis Tests
Helicobacter pylori Tests
Herpes Simplex Virus Tests
Lyme Disease Test
Rubella Test
Syphilis Tests
Summary

CHAPTER 12

Renal Function Tests
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Creatinine and Creatinine Clearance
Summary
CHAPTER 13

Pancreatic and Lipid Metabolism Tests
Amylase
Lipase
Cholesterol and Triglycerides Tests
Summary
CHAPTER 14

Diagnostic Radiology Tests
How an X-ray Is Taken
Abdominal X-ray
Extremity X-ray
Spinal X-ray
Mammogram
Chest X-ray
Dental X-ray
Facial X-ray
Skull X-ray
Summary
CHAPTER 15

Computed Tomography Scan
Full-Body CT Scan
CT Scan of the Head
CT Scan of the Spine
Summary
CHAPTER 16

Ultrasound Scan
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Ultrasound
Transvaginal Ultrasound and Hysterosonogram
Testicular Ultrasound
Abdominal Ultrasound
Breast Ultrasound
Cranial Ultrasound
Doppler Ultrasound
Fetal Ultrasound
Pelvic Ultrasound
Thyroid and Parathyroid Ultrasound
Summary
CHAPTER 17

Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Abdominal MRI
Breast MRI
Head MRI
Knee MRI
Shoulder MRI
Spinal MRI
Summary
CHAPTER 18

Positron Emission Tomography Scan
PET Scan
Summary
CHAPTER 19

Cardiovascular Tests and Procedures
Cardiac Blood Pool Scan
Cardiac Calcium Scoring
Electrocardiogram
Cardiac Perfusion Scan
Ankle-Brachial Index
Echocardiogram
Pericardiocentesis
Venogram
Summary

CHAPTER 20

Lung Tests and Procedures
Lung Scan
Pulmonary Function Tests
Summary
CHAPTER 21

Tests and Procedures for Females
Breast Cancer Gene Test
Breast Ultrasound
Pap Smear
Vaginosis Tests
Sperm Penetration Tests
Summary
CHAPTER 22

Maternity Tests
Biophysical Profile
Contraction Stress Test
Cranial Ultrasound
Amniocentesis
Cordocentesis
Sweat Test
Chorionic Villus Sampling
Karyotyping
Cervical Cerclage (Weak Cervix)
Galactosemia Test
Summary
CHAPTER 23

Chest, Abdominal, Urinary Tract Tests and Procedures
Upper Gastrointestinal Series
Esophagus Test Series
Gallbladder Scan
Kidney Scan
Liver and Spleen Scan
Urinalysis
Urine Culture and Sensitivity Test
Renin Assay Test
Thyroid Scan
Thyroid and Parathyroid Ultrasound
Thyroid Hormone Tests
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Test
Thyroid Surgery
Salivary Gland Scan
D-xylose Absorption Test
Stool Culture 502 Enterotest (Giardiasis String Test)
Stool Analysis
Fecal Occult Blood Test
Overnight Dexamethasone Suppression Test
Summary
CHAPTER 24

Bone and Muscle Tests
Bone Mineral Density
Bone Scan
Summary
CHAPTER 25

Tests for Males
Erectile Dysfunction Tests
Testicular Ultrasound
Testicular Scan
Testicular Examination
Semen Analysis
Summary

CHAPTER 26

Skin Tests
Chemical Peel
Allergy Skin Testing
Dermabrasion
Mantoux Skin Test
Wound Culture
Summary
CHAPTER 27

Sinus, Ears, Nose, Throat (ENT) Tests and Procedures
Electroencephalogram
Throat Culture
Sputum Culture
Sputum Cytology
Sinus X-ray
Tympanometry
Audiometric Testing
Summary
Vision Tests and Procedures
Vision Tests
Tonometry
Electronystagmogram
Summary
Medical Tests and Procedures Demystified
Index