Albumin — the must-know protein lab value for the NCLEX, covered in 5 minutes.
In this episode: what albumin is, the normal reference range of 3.5-6 grams per deciliter, how this liver-synthesized transport protein carries bilirubin, calcium, progesterone and medications through the blood, its key role in fluid balance and colloid oncotic pressure keeping fluid in the blood, why it's part of the comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), how it evaluates liver function, nutritional status and kidney function, causes of low albumin including liver disease, cirrhosis, inflammation, shock, malnutrition and kidney disease, and serum versus urine albumin with nephrotic syndrome signs like swelling around the eyes, belly and legs.
Keywords: albumin, normal range, reference range 3.5-6, low albumin, transport protein, colloid oncotic pressure, osmotic pressure, CMP, comprehensive metabolic panel, liver function, nutritional status, prealbumin, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, edema, malnutrition, NCLEX lab values, nursing labs.
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New episodes of Lab Values in 5 drop every Tuesday.
