What to focus on-labs

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I'm sure this has been answered before but I could not find a definitive list. I have ten days left to prepare and was wondering what I should really focus on when it comes to labs.

I remember a lot from nursing school like sodium, potassium, ABGs etc... But I do have some trouble remembering some of the CBC counts especially the differences between males and females.

Should I spend a lot of time getting those down or are there any recommended short lists of values to know? The list in my NCLEX prep book is a little overwhelming.

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Tough question. There is a question bank of over 3000 that NCLEX pulls from and every test is different. Some people get one or two lab value questions, some get a bucket full. So no one's experience is going to be the same as yours. I spent a whole lot of time on both lab values and pharm when I was studying and got very little on the exam.

In other words, do your best with the overwhelming list and don't be surprised if you find you didn't need to actually do that.

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These are the lab values that I used. Hope it helps. Best of luck!

Magnesium levels - 1.3-2.1 mEq/L

Calcium levels - 9-10.5 mg/dL

Sodium - 135-145 mEq/L

Potassium - 3.5-5 mEq/L

pH - 7.35-7.45

7.45 = alkalosis

PaO2 - 80-100 mmHg

PaCO2 (lungs) - 35-45 mmHg

45 = acidosis

HCO3 (bicarb; kidneys) - 22-26 mEq/L

26 = alkalosis

Prostate Specific Antigen (protein produced by prostate) -

Ideal goal for HbA1C in diabetics – 4-6%

HbA1C diagnoses for DM – 6.5-7%

Central Venous Pressure (CVP) – 2-6 mmHg

Troponin T - 0-0.1 ng/mL

Troponin I – 0.03 ng/mL

BNP that indicates HF - > 100 pg/mL

PTT – 30-40 seconds

PT – 11-12.5 seconds

INR - 1.3-2 seconds

Therapeutic INR – 2-3

Bleeding Time – 1-9 mins

Liver

AST - 8-40 U/L

ALT - 10-30 U/L

Pancreas

Amylase - 30-200 U/L

Lipase - 0-110 U/L

Kidney

BUN - 10-20 mg/dL

Creatinine - 0.5-1.3 mg/dL

Urine specific gravity - 1.010-1.030

Hemoglobin - 12-18 g/dL

Hematocrit - 38-54%

Platelet count - 150,000-400,000

WBC – 5,000-10,000

RBC – 4-6 million/mm3

Albumin – 3.5-5

Total protein - 6-8 g/dL

Ammonia - 10-80 mg/dL

ICP - 0-15 mmHg

Digoxin Therapeutic levels - 0.5-2 ng/mL

Lithium - 0.8-1.2 mEq/L

Theophylline: 10 to 20 mcg/mL

Phenytoin: 10 to 20 mcg/mL

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These are the lab values that I used. Hope it helps. Best of luck!

Magnesium levels - 1.3-2.1 mEq/L

Calcium levels - 9-10.5 mg/dL

Sodium - 135-145 mEq/L

Potassium - 3.5-5 mEq/L

pH - 7.35-7.45

7.45 = alkalosis

PaO2 - 80-100 mmHg

PaCO2 (lungs) - 35-45 mmHg

45 = acidosis

HCO3 (bicarb; kidneys) - 22-26 mEq/L

26 = alkalosis

Prostate Specific Antigen (protein produced by prostate) -

Ideal goal for HbA1C in diabetics – 4-6%

HbA1C diagnoses for DM – 6.5-7%

Central Venous Pressure (CVP) – 2-6 mmHg

Troponin T - 0-0.1 ng/mL

Troponin I – 0.03 ng/mL

BNP that indicates HF - > 100 pg/mL

PTT – 30-40 seconds

PT – 11-12.5 seconds

INR - 1.3-2 seconds

Therapeutic INR – 2-3

Bleeding Time – 1-9 mins

Liver

AST - 8-40 U/L

ALT - 10-30 U/L

Pancreas

Amylase - 30-200 U/L

Lipase - 0-110 U/L

Kidney

BUN - 10-20 mg/dL

Creatinine - 0.5-1.3 mg/dL

Urine specific gravity - 1.010-1.030

Hemoglobin - 12-18 g/dL

Hematocrit - 38-54%

Platelet count - 150,000-400,000

WBC – 5,000-10,000

RBC – 4-6 million/mm3

Albumin – 3.5-5

Total protein - 6-8 g/dL

Ammonia - 10-80 mg/dL

ICP - 0-15 mmHg

Digoxin Therapeutic levels - 0.5-2 ng/mL

Lithium - 0.8-1.2 mEq/L

Theophylline: 10 to 20 mcg/mL

Phenytoin: 10 to 20 mcg/mL

Add CBCa with band and seg interpretation to that. Also know BUN and Cr with regard to what is normal, abnormal, and would show first in acute renal failure. And know your lipid panels.

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Thank you!

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