Lab Values

vashtee, RN · Mar 27, 2009

There isn't any universal standard. For the NCLEX, just memorize one set of normals, and you will know if a level is getting to be on the high side or low side, which seems to be enough. Abnormal lab values on the NCLEX (for me) were VERY abnormal.

Even more important than memorizing the exact numbers is to know what you need to worry about when they are abnormal, for example, you worry about cardiac problems when your potassium is abnormal.

Marie82D · Mar 27, 2009

Thanks for that quick reply. It is just there are some big differences in some values.

For instance: Lipase Book:10- 140; online 0-160

Amylase book: 25-151; online 0-130

That just thew me off a bit

vashtee, RN · Mar 27, 2009

My NCLEX prep class didn't even bother with the digestive enzymes. We covered the main things: sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, etc... ones for which abnormalities could kill you quickly. It's probably enough to know that for lipase, anything over 160 is high.

lovehospital · Mar 27, 2009

I know I have the sane problem,there is a inconsistency in majority of the academic books.Currently,I'm reviewing for an exit exam required by my school in order to qualify for NCLEX,which is harder than the latter test I mentioned.

Anyway first I want to congratuate you on pursuing your RN license in US!

I'm using a very precise book for my review and here are the labs that I believe are most concise and true:))

1.Normal calcium level I would say from 9 to 10.5 (although they say in some book it starts from 8.4)

2.Potassium have the same value in all the books which is like 3.5-5.00 (low potassium level are dangerous cause they can lead to tachycardias,and too much potassium can cause bradycardias)

3.Sodium levels are also the same in all books which are 135-145 (with low sodium levels we dont have to worry so much about heart function (magnesium as well as pottasium are more of a concern) but more about nausea,weakness,vommiting.

3.Magnesium 1.3-2.5

4.Chloride 96-106

5.BUN-10-20 (note that elevated BUN does not necessarly means that the kidney are nut functioning well,sometimes it is just dehydration,creatine values and creatine clearence is a better predictor for the function of kidney)

6.phosphorus 2.5-4.5 (note that the when calcium is low the phosphorus will be high,when calcium is high the phosphorus will be low)

7.Serum creatine level - male-0.6-1.2,female 0.5-0.1 (good predictor for kidney function,a ratio of 20:1,BUN to creatine indicates adequate kidney functioning

8.Creatine clearance-male-107-139 ml,female 87-107 (the best predictor for kidney function)

9.Platelets 150,000-400,000

10.WBC-4500-11,000 (stress,anesthetics,exercise and convulsion can increased values)

11.Glucose-that is the tough one because the values keep changing I would go with 70-110,

12.Cholesterol-you want to keep it a lower than 200.

13.Hemoglobin:male 14-18,female-12-16,pregnant woman

14.Hematocrit %: male:42-52,female:37-47,pregnant female->33

15.Red blood cells-Male 4.7-6.1,Female-4.2-5.4 (pregnancy values are are usually lower)

16.SED rate,ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate;mm/hr-male up to 15,female up to 20,pregnant elevated all trimester,rate is elevated during pregnancy.

17.PT phrotrombin time:seconds-Both sexes 11-12.5(normal range for patients who are NOT on anticoagulant medications,if the patient is on Coumadin you want the PT to be 1.5 to 2 higher than normal range.

18.PTT,partial phrothrombin time;seconds-both sexes 60-70 seconds (it is used in regulating heparin therapy.The therapeutic range is 1.5-2.5 times higher then normal.

19.APTT (Activated partial thromboplastin time:seconds-both sexes is 30-40.(It is used in regulating heparin therapy,should be 1.5-2.5 higer for patient receiving anticoagulant medication

20.INR (International normalized ratio)-0.8-1.1 (used with prothrombin to monitor Coumadin therapy,for patient on anticoagulant therapy the values should be1.5-2.00 times higher)

21.Alkaline phosphate-Both sexes 30-120.

22.Albumin-Both sexes-3.5-5,in pregnant women slight elevation

23.Billirubin-total 0.3-1,indirect-02.-0.8,direct 0.1-0.3

24.Proteins-both sexes:6.2-8

25.Liver enxymes: AST(asparate aminotransferase);0-35,female sligtly lower than adult males,ALT(alanine aminotransferase:both sexes (3-36

26.Ph:both sexes -7.35-7.45

27.Pco2-both sexes:35-45

28.Po2-noth sexes:80-100

29.HCO3-both sexes:21-28

30.o2 saturation %-95-100.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Mar 27, 2009

do not worry about these small variances in lab values. they will not be tested on the nclex. the people who write the test questions for the nclex exam are very careful in reviewing the test questions that they do not have questions that require specific lab values where some small variance is going to cause a wrong answer. that would be unfair to the people taking the test and they know that. be aware of panic values, however. lab values that are clearly way out of normal.