Will normal lab values be provided on the Next Generation NCLEX exam?
Key Terms
Will normal lab values be provided on the Next Generation NCLEX exam?
Yes!
It is still a good idea to memorize the values of common labs.
Lab value:
sodium
135 - 145 (mEq/L)
Critical: < 120 or > 160
Lab value:
chloride
98 - 106 (mEq/L)
Lab value:
potassium
3.5 - 5 (mmol/L)
Critical: < 3 or > 6
Lab value:
magnesium
1.6 - 2.6 (mg/dL)
Lab value:
calcium
8.5 - 10.5 (mg/dL)
Related Flashcard Decks
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Will normal lab values be provided on the Next Generation NCLEX exam? | Yes! It is still a good idea to memorize the values of common labs. |
Lab value: sodium | 135 - 145 (mEq/L) Critical: < 120 or > 160 |
Lab value: chloride | 98 - 106 (mEq/L) |
Lab value: potassium | 3.5 - 5 (mmol/L) Critical: < 3 or > 6 |
Lab value: magnesium | 1.6 - 2.6 (mg/dL) |
Lab value: calcium | 8.5 - 10.5 (mg/dL) |
Lab value: phosphorus | 2.5 - 4.5 (mg/dL) |
Lab value: WBC (white blood cell) | 5,000 - 10,000 (million/µL) Critical value: < 2,000 or > 40,000 |
Lab value: RBC: male and female (red blood cell) | male: 4.7 - 6.6 (million/µL) female: 4.2 - 5.4 (million/µL) |
Lab value: Hgb: male, female, pregnant (hemoglobin) | male: 14-18 (g/dL) female: 12-16 (g/dL) pregnant: >11 (g/dL) |
Lab value: Hct: male, female, pregnant (hematocrit) | male: 42 - 52% female: 37 - 47% pregnant: >33% |
Lab value: platelets | 150,000 - 400,000 (million/µL) Critical value: < 50,000 or > 1 million |
Lab value: blood urea nitrogen (BUN) | 10 - 20 (mg/dL) critical BUN: > 100 |
Lab value: creatinine | 0.6 - 1.2 (mg/dL) Critical: > 4 |
Lab value: glomerular filtration rate (GFR) | > 90 (mL/min) Average is 125 (mL/min) |
Lab value: bilirubin in newborn | < 14 (mg/dL), newborn is managed at home with sunlight and increased feedings > 14 (mg/dL), newborn is hospitalized > 20 (mg/dL), is considered toxic Adult bilirubin is about 1-2, newborn bilirubin is always a bit high around 10. |
Lab value: (ALT) alanine aminotransferase (AST) aspartate aminotransferase (ALP) alkaline phosphatase | ALT: 4 - 36 (U/L) AST: 0 - 25 (U/L) ALP: 20 - 140 (U/L) A mild elevation will be 2 - 3 times higher than normal A severe elevation can be in the hundreds or thousands |
Lab value: total cholesterol | < 200 (mg/dL) |
Lab value: HDL: male, female (High-density lipoproteins) | male: >40 (1.0 mmol/L) female: >50 (1.3 mmol/L) >60 (1.6 mmol/L) is ideal |
Lab value: LDL (Low-density lipoproteins) | < 100 (mg/dL) |
Lab value: protein | 6 - 8.3 (g/dL) |
Lab value: ammonia | 15 - 56 (µmol/L) |
Lab value: albumin | 3.5 - 5 (g/dL) |
Lab value: PT normal/control (prothrombin time) | PT normal/control: 11 - 12.5 seconds |
Lab value: PT therapeutic | (prothrombin time) | 1.5 - 2 times the control/normal value Example 11 x 1.5 = 16.5 12.5 x 2 = 25 Therapeutic level: 16.5 - 25 seconds Labs are different and may have a different control. If there is not a control number indicated use 11 - 12.5. The higher the number the less risk that a blood clot will form. But it also puts the client at risk for bleeding. |
Lab value: INR: normal, therapeutic | (international normalized ratio) | normal: 0.8 - 1.1 therapeutic: 2 - 3 Therapeutic: the higher the number the less risk that a blood clot will form. But it also puts the client at risk for bleeding. |
Lab value: aPTT: (normal/control) | (activated partial thromboplastin time) | aPTT normal/control: 25 - 35 seconds |
Lab value: aPTT: therapeutic | (activated partial thromboplastin time) | aPTT: 1.5 - 2.5 times the control/normal value Example: 25 x 1.5 = 37.5 second Therapeutic level: 37.5 - 87.5 seconds Labs are different and may have a different control. Some labs use 20-30 and some use 30-40. If there is not a control number indicated use 25-35 seconds. The higher the number the less risk that a blood clot will form. But it also puts the client at risk for bleeding. |
Lab value: amylase and lipase | 0 - 160 (U/L) |
Lab value: HbA1c | (glycated hemoglobin) | non-diabetic: 4 - 5.7% good diabetes control: \< 7% poor diabetes control: > 9% |
Lab value: Blood sugar: fasting, random, critical | fasting: 70 - 110 mg/dL (3.9 - 6.1 mmol/L) - no food for at least 8 hours before the test random: ≤ 200 mg/dL (≤ 11.1 mmol/L)- may have eaten before the test critical: \< 50 or > 400 mg/dL (\< 2.8 - > 22.2 mmol/L) |
Lab value: BNP | (B-type natriuretic peptide or brain natriuretic peptide) | 0 - 100 (pg/mL) |
Lab value: troponin | 0 - 0.04 (ng/mL) |
Lab value: CK | (creatine kinase) | 22 - 198 (U/L) |
Lab value: uric acid | 2.4 - 7 (mg/dL) |
Therapeutic drug level: digoxin | 1 - 2 (ng/mL) |
Therapeutic drug level: lithium | 0.6 - 1.2 (mmol/L) |
Therapeutic drug level: phenytoin | 10 - 20 (mcg/mL) Greater than 20 is considered toxic. |
What is the normal respiration rate for an adult? | 12 - 20 breaths per minute |
What is a normal pulse oximetry/oxygen (O2) saturation? | 95% - 100% |
What is a normal heart rate for an adult? | 60 - 100 beats per minute strong and regular |
What is a normal blood pressure (BP)? | 90/60 to 120/80 (mmHg) systolic is the first number diastolic is the second number |
What is a normal body temperature? | 96.8° - 100.4° F | (36° - 38° C) |
What labs are included in a CBC (complete blood count)? | Red blood cell count Hemoglobin Hematocrit White blood cell count |
What labs are included in a BMP (basic metabolic panel)? | glucose calcium potassium bicarbonate chloride BUN creatinine |
What labs are included in a CMP (complete metabolic panel)? | glucose calcium potassium bicarbonate chloride BUN creatinine albumin total protein ALP and AST bilirubin |