NCLEX and lab values

Don't worry about it. The few lab values I encountered were obviously abnormal. The exam might have a question about a calcium level of 15, for example. It doesn't focus on fine points but rather the big picture. It's the same with pharmacology. The drugs are also really obvious. Mine were Viagra and nitro.

My advise, don't concentrate too much on lab values bec. they differ on every books. What you need to know is use the latest book. Like Saunders 4th edition, instead of memorizing the lab values, know the normal and know what will happen if the values goes and or drops down... that's what is most important, bec. In NCLEX, they won't ask you what is the normal potassium level but ask you what will happen if low potassium. Hopes that helps.

How am I suppose to study lab values for the NCLEX when lab values can change in different labs??? i.e. one book says Lipase is 0-110 an another says its 40-375 and for amylase one says 45-200 while another says 30-110....these are big differences! So if I am given a lab value how am I suppose to know if it is off or not when there are so many different values for the same test??

I wouldn't worry too much about the "exotic" lab tests, or for the differences between adult male, adult female, infant, pedi,......

Know some ballpark adult ranges for Na, K, Cl, Ca, hemoglobin/hematocrit. From what I recall when I took it a few months ago, any oddball lab values were really odd & clearly outside of the "normal" adult range.