BUN lab values - - what's right??

[Andi777]

Hey all!

Here's a question for you about BUN values.

Hurst Review states normal as 6-23, School told me 7-22 and HESI (2014) states 10-20!!!

Those are some big discrepancies when the NCLEX practice question I just did asked what a NORMAL value was and gave me the following two RIGHT answers.

Answer 1: 7

Answer 2: 22

The rationale for the NCLEX app stated the norm was 8-21

The option of 15 was also given -- which I probably should have picked because it's right smack dab in the middle (I now know this is the smartest option)!

In a real NCLEX question, is it your understanding that the values are going to be so widely varied in 'norms' and the questions also so close to one norm or another?

In the working world, I know that I will go by my organization's policy, but we're talking about NCLEX land.... so is there an NCLEX land of correct lab values that we should know?

Thanks,

Andi

[Amberlc94]

I've always been taught by school and ATI BUN 10-20. Lab values differ from each source. My teachers and ATI instructor told us that on NCLEX that all lab values will be significantly off not just by a point or two.

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

On NCLEX, they would never give you a value that is on the border like that. If it was off, there would be no question that it's off. They would never have you select 1.5 as a normal value for magnesium. It would be something like 1.9.

[Andi777]

On NCLEX they would never give you a value that is on the border like that. If it was off, there would be no question that it's off. They would never have you select 1.5 as a normal value for magnesium. It would be something like 1.9.[/quote']

That is reassuring -- especially w/ values so tight like mag & phos! Thanks for the nugget!

[nursewr]

Took Kaplan class in person and my instructor assured us that in NCLEx land that any abnormal value will be way high or way low

[Sonia1210]

Don't worry too much the difference by 1 or 2, they will give either really high or low.