Pathology laboratories are bound by privacy laws regarding the use and release of personal information. This means pathology test results can only be released to health practitioners directly involved in the person's care.
Specifically, registered nurses can make a nursing diagnosis that identifies a condition—not a disease or disorder—as the cause of a client's signs or symptoms. This diagnosis is a clinical judgment about the cause of a client's mental or physical condition.
Blood tests may be prescribed serially, for example, every hour for 4 hours; daily; or immediately (Stat). The nurse monitors to ensure that the tests are completed, as requested. The results are reported to the physician, as needed, and are posted manually or electronically in the patient's record.
Most blood tests only take a few minutes to complete. They're carried out at your GP practice or local hospital by a doctor, nurse or phlebotomist (a specialist in taking blood samples).
Following assessment of a patient, the interpretation of their blood results (high and low values) may hold vital answers to their potential diagnosis or may indicate further investigations are required.
While there is no formal restriction on directly contacting a pathologist, the most appropriate person to discuss pathology test results is the treating practitioner.
Throughout the course of care, nurses monitor the results of diagnostic tests and modify the plan of care, as indicated. They also notify the physician when laboratory results are outside of normal limits and/or a significant change for the client.
Don't ignore your abnormal blood test results just because you haven't noticed any external symptoms. Raised tumour markers, anaemia or abnormal liver function tests in particular may indicate an underlying condition that requires treatment.
You may need more tests, new medication or a change to your medication. If your results show an urgent concern, you will be contacted quickly. Sometimes your health professional may decide that – taking into account what is already known about your health – no further action is needed.
Positive or abnormal, which means the disease or substance was found. Inconclusive or uncertain, which means there wasn't enough information in the results to diagnose or rule out a disease. If you get an inconclusive result, you will probably get more tests.
Knowing the different normal lab values is an important step in making an informed clinical decision as a nurse. Diagnostic and laboratory tests are tools that provide invaluable insights and information about the patient.
Blood tests can be used for many different things, including to check cholesterol and blood glucose levels. These help monitor your risk of heart and circulatory diseases and diabetes, or how your condition is being managed. Tests for different chemicals and proteins can indicate how your liver or kidneys are working.
A CBC can identify conditions including anemia, heart disease, autoimmune disease, leukemia, and other cancers. A Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) checks kidney function, lung function, and blood sugar levels by testing blood filtration, blood sugar, and electrolyte levels.
Attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) can be diagnosed by a psychiatrist, a psychologist, a pediatrician or family doctor, a nurse practitioner, a neurologist, a master level counselor, or a social worker.
Nursing diagnoses are developed by nurses, for use by nurses. For example, NANDA International (NANDA-I) is a global professional nursing organization that develops nursing terminology that names actual or potential human responses to health problems and life processes based on research findings.
“Nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment about individual, family, or community responses to actual or potential health problems/life processes. Nursing diagnosis provides the basis for selection of nursing interventions to achieve outcomes for which the nurse is accountable.”
Although mix-ups of blood test samples are rare, they do happen. How your blood sample is handled before it's analyzed can affect results, too. For example, if the sample is collected in the wrong container, shaken inappropriately, or stored for too long or at the wrong temperature, you may get an erroneous result.
From these tests we can determine things like the presence of anaemia (low red blood cells from various causes), infection, kidney failure and liver disease. Often the results of these tests will trigger further testing.
The accuracy of lab results can be affected by many factors, like testing conditions, testing facilities, and the test itself. While it's impossible for lab results to be accurate 100% of the time, you can take steps to increase the chances that the results are right.
Blood test results can take several minutes to several weeks, depending on the test. It is common to wait a day or two for most results to come back. A person should talk to their doctor or lab about what to expect regarding their test results.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet have been shown to help alleviate stress and worry. If you find yourself feeling particularly worried about medical results, try taking a 30 minute walk. Or do another form of exercise that you enjoy. You don't have to run a marathon to feel the calming benefits of exercise!
It's not unusual for blood test results to vary from time to time or lab to lab, but even blood taken at the same time and measured by the same lab can generate slightly different results. Some factors, such as differences in lab equipment and processes, are out of your hands.
Generally, the practitioner ordering tests is also responsible for following up the results, unless otherwise agreed.
Staff nurses perform duties such as giving patients their medications, monitoring vital signs, documenting patients' condition, and educating patients and their families about medical conditions. They are also responsible for maintaining clean and well-equipped patient areas.
Assessment findings that include current vital signs, lab values, changes in condition such as decreased urine output, cardiac rhythm, pain level, and mental status, as well as pertinent medical history with recommendations for care, are communicated to the provider by the nurse.