Understanding Clinical Investigations

Understanding clinical investigations is an indispensable handbook providing easily accessible explanations of the common investigations carried out on all body systems. It addresses the relationship between normal physiology and disease processes and the place of clinical investigation within these events. The rationale for investigation is made clear and some guidance for further care is offered. Designed to give quickly referenced guidance on a broad spectrum of clinical investigation and monitoring, it will be helpful to all nursing staff and will assist in giving explaining tests to patients.Understanding Clinical Investigations provides:

a unique combination of normal physiology, clinical investigations and pathophysiology

an attractive, user-friendly design ensuring easy access to key information

an appendix of normal values

In this new edition each investigation has been updated in line in the light of recent guidelines and practice. New material has been added including chromosome studies and blood cholesterol values.

• Comprehensive range of common clinical investigations
• Combines normal physiology and clinical investigations and pathophysiology
• Appendix of normal values

New design and format

Each investigation has been updated in line in the light of recent guidelines and practice.

New material has been added including chromosome studies and blood cholesterol values

Acknowledgements. Introduction. Warning. Assessment of Patients. Temperature. Pulse. Blood Pressure. The Electrocardiogram. Central Venous Pressure. Blood Tests. Red Blood Cells. Red Blood Cellor erythrocyte count. Haemoglobin. Red blood cell count and haemoglobin values. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate. Differential White Cell Count. Lymphocytes. Eosinophils. Neutrophils. Basophils. Monocytes. White Blood Cells. White Cell Count. Platelets. Prothrombin. Platelets and Prothrombin. Bone Marrow Puncture. Total Protein. Albumin. Globulin. Plasma Proteins. Blood Groups. Blood Glucose. Thyroxine (T4) and Tri-iodothyronine (T3). Thyroid Gland. Tri-iodthyronine (T3). Thyroxine (T4). Thyroid Gland. Sodium. Potassium. Chloride. Calcium. Magnesium. Creatinine. Urea. Blood Lipids. Respirations. Peak Expiratory Flow Rate. Lung Capacity Measurements. Oxygen. Oxygen Saturation Monitoring. Oxygen Therapy. Carbon Dioxide. pH Balance. Carbon Dioxide/pH Balance. Bicarbonate. Vomitus. Stools. Urine. Urine Testing. Urine Volume. Urine Specific Gravity. Urine pH. Urine, Protein. Urine, Glucose. Urine, Ketones. Urine, Blood. Urine, Nitrate and Leucocytes. Bilirubin. Serum Bilirubin. Urine Urobilinogen. Bilirubin. Prostate specific antigen. Cardiac enzymes. Liver function tests. Hormones of Pregnancy. Prenatal Testing. Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG). Gutherie test. Chromosome analysis. Cerebrospinal fluid. Neurological Examination. Examination of the Pupils. Pupils. Reflexes. Level of Consciousness. Neurological Examination. Weight. Examination of the Skin. Inflammation. C-reactive protein. Oedema. Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Specimens for Culture and Sensitivity. Diagnostic Procedures. Blood Tests. Growth ChartsBibliography. Index.