Davis’s Comprehensive Handbook of Laboratory & Diagnostic Tests, 8th Edition

The Problem This Book Solves

Davis’s Comprehensive Handbook of Laboratory & Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications addresses a critical challenge for nursing students and practicing clinicians: interpreting lab results accurately and applying them to patient care. Misreading a single value can lead to poor outcomes, and the sheer volume of tests makes it difficult to keep every reference at your fingertips. This handbook is designed to eliminate guesswork, providing clear, nursing-focused guidance for every common lab and diagnostic procedure.

What Is Davis’s Comprehensive Handbook of Laboratory & Diagnostic Tests?

Davis’s Comprehensive Handbook of Laboratory & Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications is a trusted, pocket-sized reference from F. A. Davis Company. Authored by Anne M. Van Leeuwen and Mickey Lynn Bladh, this eighth edition (2019) organizes hundreds of tests alphabetically, with each entry covering purpose, normal values, procedure, and critical nursing implications. It is the go-to resource for understanding test results and planning safe, evidence-based interventions.

Who Should Read This Handbook?

This book is essential for nursing students who need to master lab interpretation for exams and clinical rotations, as well as for practicing nurses, nurse educators, and advanced practice clinicians who want a quick, reliable reference at the bedside or in the classroom. It also benefits allied health professionals—such as medical assistants, respiratory therapists, and lab technicians—who collaborate with nurses in diagnostic decision-making.

7 Key Things You Will Learn

• How to interpret normal and abnormal lab values for over 600 tests
• Nursing-specific implications for each test—what to monitor, when to act, and how to educate patients
• Guidance on specimen collection, handling, and procedural precautions
• Clinical alerts for critical values, drug–lab interactions, and age-related variations
• Rationale for test selection in common disease states (e.g., diabetes, kidney failure, sepsis)
• Strategies for integrating lab data into the nursing process (assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, evaluation)
• Updates from the eighth edition, including new tests and revised reference ranges based on current evidence

Why This Handbook Outperforms Every Alternative

Unlike generic lab-reference websites or bulky textbooks, this handbook is designed exclusively for nurses. Competitors often bury nursing implications deep in technical language, but Van Leeuwen and Bladh highlight the nursing perspective on every page. The compact size fits in a lab coat pocket, making it accessible during rounds. The eighth edition delivers the most current reference ranges and evidence-based recommendations, whereas many online databases are not updated regularly. No other single volume matches this combination of portability, nursing focus, and authoritative updates from a renowned publisher.

Author Authority & Publisher Credibility

Anne M. Van Leeuwen and Mickey Lynn Bladh are respected nursing educators with decades of experience in clinical practice and faculty roles. They have authored multiple editions of this handbook, ensuring consistency and refinement across releases. The F. A. Davis Company has been a leading publisher of nursing education resources for over 100 years, known for rigorous editorial standards and alignment with current healthcare practice. This combination guarantees that the content is both academically sound and practically applicable.

Is This Handbook Worth It? Our Verdict

For any nurse who regularly interprets lab results, the eighth edition of Davis’s Comprehensive Handbook is an indispensable investment. It saves time by eliminating the need to cross-reference multiple sources, reduces errors with clear nursing implications, and supports better patient outcomes. The updated content reflects the latest evidence, making it more reliable than older editions or free online resources. In short: if you work in clinical nursing, you need this book.

Get Your Copy — Master Lab Interpretation Today

Whether you are a student preparing for the NCLEX or a seasoned nurse refining your clinical judgment, this handbook gives you the confidence to act on lab data. The eighth edition from F. A. Davis Company is the most current and nurse-friendly version available. Add it to your cart now and start interpreting tests with precision.