Lab values...

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

So I know that we need to know our lab values and the normal ranges, etc. I was told that on the NCLEX, an abnormal value will usually be obvious...not like .-something or a couple of numeric values above or under the norm.

I am making lab value notecards to help me study. I have noticed subtle differences in values among different books, but some are a little more than just subtle.

For example, one source for platelets says 150,000-450,000. That's what I learned. Another one says 150,000-400,000. That's a pretty big difference, imo.

And ammonia: one source says 10-80mcg/dL and another says 35-65mcg/dL. Again, kind of a big difference.

So how do I know what's right and what to study?

[the.godfatherXIII]

This is the problem when you use different books as reference. You miss the right answers because the book uses a different range on lab values. I have given a thought about this before and from what I have seen in the actual exam, the BON uses lab values that is either extreme low or extreme high. I haven't seen values that are very close to the upper/lower limit. Just like what you said, they usually use numbers that are too obvious for you to tell that it is abnormally high/low.

So which book for lab values should you follow? Either of the two.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

the.godfatherXIII said:

So which book for lab values should you follow? Either of the two.

Thanks ?

[caliotter3]

Unless you find something that is definitive for you, you just have to pick one or the other. Hopefully any question posed on the exam will not ask you to distinguish between the two answers provided by different sources.