Need to study lab values

missninaRN · Mar 13, 2008

I've been thinking the same thing. It seems every textbook, heck, every instructor, I've had gives slightly different norms for lab values.

So, which ones does the NCLEX use? Hoping someone here can answer that question!

MMARN, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2008

I've been thinking the same thing. It seems every textbook, heck, every instructor, I've had gives slightly different norms for lab values.
So, which ones does the NCLEX use? Hoping someone here can answer that question!

My friend who just passed with 99 questions, told me that on the NCLEX, they pretty much give you a value that's completely off the wall; meaning, they always give you something that's in the extreme. For example, if there's a pt whose potassium is 1.6, what would you do? Things like that. And if they do give you something within the normal range, it's always in between. I've noticed this on the Kaplan. When they do questions with lab values, they seem to always either stick with a "neutral" value or with the extreme. Best advice: know your basics. No test is the same, but you can get by with knowing only the mere basics. Just my :twocents: . :)

chapril · Mar 13, 2008

Hello, I am doing the F&E chapter of Saunders, 3rd Ed, and noticed in the pyramid terms for hypercalcemia, hyperkalemia, &c on p83 that certain lab values are not the same as the lab values I got from the NCSB review site. For example, NCSB normal K values are 3.5 -5.3 mg/dL while Saunders' normal K values are 3.5-5.1; NCSB normal Mg values are 1.5-2.5 while Saunders' are 1.6-2.6; NCSB Phosphates are 2.5-4.5 and Saunders' are 2.7-4.5; and NCSB Calcium values are 8-10, Saunders' are 8.6-10.

Does someone have a newer Saunders (copyright date on mine is 2005); if so, can you please tell us how my 3rd Ed numbers compare with yours? I was thinking the difference is because I have an older Saunders; anyways, since B in NCSB is "Board", I am reluctant to not heed their numbers.

Thanks, :bugeyes:

April

christiangirl · Mar 18, 2008

As you know i cannot disclose any content, but i will say i freaked out about lab values too and tried to cram my head full and felt that it wasnt focused on. I felt that critical thinking, prioritizing, and teaching were really focused on. I feel the lab values you need to know, you already know, I just feel like that isnt where you should be focusing. Cant say anything else.. peace.

FA2Z · Mar 18, 2008

hello, i am doing the f&e chapter of saunders, 3rd ed, and noticed in the pyramid terms for hypercalcemia, hyperkalemia, &c on p83 that certain lab values are not the same as the lab values i got from the ncsb review site. for example, ncsb normal k values are 3.5 -5.3 mg/dl while saunders' normal k values are 3.5-5.1; ncsb normal mg values are 1.5-2.5 while saunders' are 1.6-2.6; ncsb phosphates are 2.5-4.5 and saunders' are 2.7-4.5; and ncsb calcium values are 8-10, saunders' are 8.6-10.
does someone have a newer saunders (copyright date on mine is 2005); if so, can you please tell us how my 3rd ed numbers compare with yours? april

i checked both eds. the labs are the same.

however there are some changes in cpr that drove me nuts bc i did not know about it. like compressions and breathe ration. it is 30:2 now instead of 15:2:bugeyes:

better to buy the 4-th ed. i bought mine at half.com for 50 bucks:up:.

chapril · Mar 19, 2008

i checked both eds. the labs are the same.
however there are some changes in cpr that drove me nuts bc i did not know about it. like compressions and breathe ration. it is 30:2 now instead of 15:2:bugeyes:
better to buy the 4-th ed. i bought mine at half.com for 50 bucks:up:.

hi, thanks so much for the help, really appreciate it.:bowingpur

elanas · Apr 11, 2008

Pick a set of numbers like 3.5-5 for K and stick with it. The clinical significance of 5.0-5.2 is not significant so dont stress over it. As a previous lab tech (I still dont know all the values) I recommend for simplicity just memorize the middle number as a baseline for what is normal. For ex your brain should think K=4; mg=2; CA=9; bam one number for each b/c these are the ideal perfect numbers for these elements. Also quick trick on rbc's, hgb, hct think rule of 3's rbc=4 and 4 x 3 is 12 the standard hgb. Then take 12 x3 and this gives you the standard hct 36.

Another quick trick a lot of the therapeutic ranges on antibiotics is like around 1 so is dig.

Well hope this helps

Kat:banghead: