Are you wondering which labs you need to know for NCLEX? There’s so much information that you need to know for the NCLEX RN, NCLEX PN exam. Knowledge of the lab values are highly important as a change in lab value measurements can indicate whether a patient is returning to optimal health or is not. I decided to share my personal list that I used while studying for my NCLEX exam. I hope that you found it informative and helpful.
Here is my list of the Lab Values that you NEED TO KNOW!!
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ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES (ABG’S)
pH: 7.35-7.45 (High pH=Alkalosis, Low pH= Acidosis)
pCo2- 35-45 (High pCo2=Respiratory Alkalosis, Low pCo2= Metabolic Acidosis)
P02= 80-100
HC03= 22-26 (High HC03=Respiratory Alkalosis, Low HC03= Metabolic Acidosis)
Sa02= 94-100%
ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE (ESR)
ESR indicates inflammation.
Normal is <30mm/hr
TOTAL CHOLESTEROL <200
HDL (GOOD) >60
LDL (BAD) <130
TRIGYLCERIDES
100-200; you want <150
If patient is on medication, you want <100
LIVER ENYZMES/HEPATIC FUNCTION TESTS
ALT = 10-30
➢Identifies hepatocellular disease of the liver; monitors improvement of disease
AST = 8-40
➢Evaluates a client with suspected hepatocellular disease/ cardiac markers to evaluate coronary artery occlusive disease
➢Increased levels of ALT & AST indicates Jaundice, Liver Problems
ALBUMIN 3.5-5.0
➢Volume expander, a protein
➢Indicates nutritional status
BILIRUBIN 0.1-1
infant levels= 10-14
Increased Bilirubin=jaundice
GLUCOSE 70-110 (Fasting State Normal)
<50 (Low) >400 (High)
1 hr- 190 mg/dL
2 hr- 140 mg/dL
3hr- 125 mg/dL
HBA1C <7%
Its a 3 month review of Glucose management
BUN (RENAL FUNCTION) 10-20
➢Increased BUN indicates Dehydration via GI bleed, poor renal perfusion, corticosteroid use
CREATININE (RENAL FUNCTION) 0.6-1.5
Increased Creatinine indicates Renal dysfunction
HEMOGLOBIN (HGB)
Measures Oxygen carrying capacity of the RBC
Male = 13-18 g/dL
Female = 12-16 g/dL
Child = 11-12.5 g/dL
Increased Hgb= Dehydration
Decreased Hgb= Bleeding, Anemia, Hemorrhage, Hemodilution
HEMATOCRIT (HCT)
The percentage of RBC per fluid volume of Blood
Male = 42-52%
Female = 35-45%
Child = 35-45%
➢Increased Hct= Dehydration
➢Decreased Hct= Bleeding
WHITE BLOOD CELL (WBC)
Helps fight infections; immune system cells (leukocytes)
Adult = 5,000-10,000
Child = 5,000-13,000
➢Increased WBC = immunosuppressed, infections (bacterial/viral), inflammation (Rheumatoid arthritis, IBD, Leukemia, Allergies)
➢Decreased WBC = neutropenic; bone marrow disorders, lymphoma, lupus, HIV
RED BLOOD CELL (RBC)
Male = 4.6-6.2 million/mm3
Female = 4.2-5.4 million/mm3
Child = 3.2-5.2 million/mm3
➢Decreased RBC- hypoxia, anemia
PLATELETS 150,000-450,000/ mm3
Used to diagnose hemorrhagic disease, thrombocytopenia
<20,000 = Risk for bleeding
<100,000 = Thrombocytopenia
COAGS
PT 9.5-12 seconds
➢Measures amount of time it takes in seconds for clot formation
➢Monitors effectiveness of Warafin (Coumadin) and detects coagulation disorders
➢Longer than 30 seconds = risk for Bleeding
➢Antidote for Coumadin = Vitamin K
PTT 20-45 seconds
Therapeutic – 1.5-2.5 times
Lower limit of normal 20-25 second
Upper limit of normal 32-39 second
➢Monitors effectiveness of Heparin
➢Detects coagulation disorders
➢Antidote for Heparin = Protamine Sulfate
INR 2-3 (therapeutic)
➢Monitors effectiveness of anticoagulation therapy
➢Monitors Warafin Therapy
AMMONIA 10-80
➢Metabolized by liver, excreted by kidneys as Urea
URIC ACID 3.5-7.5
DIGESTIVE ENZYMES (PANCREAS)
LIPASE 0-110 (Most specific)
AMYLASE 45-200 (made by Pancreas & salivary glands, helps with digestion)
TROPONIN <0.6 mg/mL
>1.5 = indicates MI
➢Cardiac Marker
PHENOBARBITAL 10-30
LITHIUM 0.5-1.5
➢Mood stabilizer for Depressed/Manic patients
➢Don’t use in Renal/Cardiac patient
➢Loss water & sodium; so increase sodium intake
➢Give with meals
➢Safety- causes orthostatic hypostension
DIGOXIN 0.5-2.0
➢Dig toxicity = >2.5
➢Decreases Heart Rate
➢Early signs of toxicity= GI symptoms (N/V)
➢Late signs of toxicity= yellow halos, visual changes
DILANTIN (PHENYTOIN) 10-20
➢Phenytoin toxicity = >30
➢Turns urine Brown
THEOPHYLLINE 10-20
➢Theophylline toxicity = >20
Central Venous Pressure (CVP)
2-11 mm/Hg
5-13 cc/H20
➢Measures pressure in Right Atria of the heart.
➢Remember: more volume, more pressure
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 1.010-1.030
➢Less than 1.010 = Diluted urine
➢Higher than 1.030 = Concentrated urine
TYLENOL TOXICITY >4,000 mg/day
➢Can cause liver problems
➢Antidote for Tylenol = Acetocysteine
FLUID & ELECTROLYTES
Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Chloride, etc.
♢◆♢◆♢◆♢ For my NCLEX exam, I memorized these lab values. (I wrote them all out over and over again until I knew them. Then I quizzed myself as I had them on index cards and/or I asked family members to quiz me).
During my exam I wrote down the lab values that I definitely knew that I had trouble remembering. This was helpful because while I was answering questions, I had the information in front of me as reference.
* Note: Testers are not allowed to write down information on the whiteboard immediately after getting the whiteboard. I suggest that you wait until you’ve started your first exam question to write the lab values down* ♢◆♢◆♢◆♢
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