What role do lab values play in patient care as referenced in the NET?

Lab values are essential in patient care as they provide critical information that informs clinical decision-making. By interpreting lab results, healthcare professionals can assess a patient's current health status, identify potential health issues, and determine appropriate interventions. For instance, abnormal lab values can indicate problems such as infection, liver or kidney dysfunction, or electrolyte imbalances, guiding nurses and the healthcare team in planning and implementing individualized treatment strategies.

These values form a foundational aspect of clinical assessments, allowing for ongoing monitoring of a patient's condition over time and helping to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments. Therefore, recognizing the significance of lab values is fundamental to delivering safe and effective healthcare.

While understanding a patient's medical history is also important, lab values provide concrete data that can clarify or even contradict aspects of that history, making them indispensable in diagnosis and treatment planning for all levels of nursing practice, not just advanced practitioners.