How do you memorize lab values?

[berna1126]

How do you memorize lab values?

Any tips???

[iamhopeful2009]

Hi, I am also starting suzannes plan and have gone thru the first 40 chapters.

Regarding your post, I have a terrible memory when it comes to lab values, being in the teaching profession for 10 years in the past, I wanted to suggest what I used to teach to my stdents - continued repetition.

I started by making a master copy of lab values I wanted to memorize and grouped them ie.. Electrolytes / abg's / blood coag levels / drug therapeutic levels / cbc etc...

To keep from stressing, I made small step goals. As I started, each day I memorized one group at a time, reciting the lab values.... ( 1st day - electrolytes) and when finally I felt confident I memorized it, I would write them over and over in a notebook and aim to get a thread of 5 consecutive perfect written down lab values.

The next day, before memorizing the next group of values to memorize, I would write down the ones I memorized yesterday and check to see if it was perfect or needed review once again. Only after that would I repeat the steps done on the first day with another set of values (abg's). So at the end of the second day, I was able to write down values for both elecrolytes and abgs

And so on and so forth. This helped me a lot, and have expanded my lab value groupings with precautions and antidotes. By the end of the week you would have memorized around 35-40 lab values, all precautions, and 17 antedotes.

Hope this helps....

By the way, I used the lab values given to me at kaplan since the lab values slightly differ depending on which text you use.

[caliotter3]

I pretty much follow the steps given by iamhopeful when I want to memorize something and find that they work.

[turnerika]

I use flashcards and follow the rule of 5.

STEP ONE: I take five flashcard lab values and go thru them looking at both sides of the cards a couple of times. Then I test myself on them until I get all 5 correct and set them aside.

STEP TWO: Then I grab five more and follow step ONE

STEP THREE: Grab all 10 cards and go thru all of them until you can get them all correct...

STEP FOUR: keep going until you're done...

I would not reccomend going through 100's of these at a time b/c your brain needs some free non nclex time!

[acissej]

Are you taking NCLEX? ?

I don't have a good memory but I was able to manage it by answering as many questions as I can. When you keep on answering questions, you will be reminded of the lab values that you have failed to remember. It will give you ideas too on the most common lab values like WBC, platelet, glycosylated Hgb, urine specific gravity etc.

I also posted the common lab values in my room. ?

God bless you!

[maggiesdream]

I have them posted on my bathroom wall.

[BarkyBryan]

Some good tips here... It is a little overwhelming for me too. Going to try some of these....

[duling]

I test myself (i have a test paper) everyday I answered it and before i knew it..i already memorize it by heart! very effective!

[suzanne4, RN]

Please do not focus on ust memorizing these numbers, it will not get you thru the exam.

Focus instead of what the number means and what it will mean to your patient. If too high or too low? What are you going to do?

If you look for understanding the numbers, then it will get easier. Also be aware that different facilities also can have different ranges that are acceptable to them.