This book is designed to provide both students and practitioners of nursing with the information
they need to care for individuals undergoing laboratory and diagnostic tests and procedures.
The content is presented as a guiding reference for planning care, providing specific
interventions, and evaluating outcomes of nursing care.
In this edition, the background information and description of the test or procedure are
followed directly by the clinical applications data, starting with reference values, for each test or group of tests. The introductory sections include the anatomic, physiological, and pathophysiological content necessary for a thorough understanding of the purpose of and indications for specific tests and procedures. The inclusion of this information makes this book unlike many other references on this subject matter. This feature enhances the integration of basic science knowledge with an understanding of and application to diagnostic testing. This is extremely helpful for nursing students in developing critical thinking and clinical judgment.
For each test or study within the respective sections, reference values, including variations
related to age or gender, are provided. Critical values, where appropriate, are highlighted. Both
conventional units and international units are provided. Readers are encouraged to be aware of
some variation in laboratory values from agency to agency.