Laboratory Values - NCLEX Review

Question 1

The nurse understands that the normal values for pH, PCO2, HCO3 and PaO2 are

Answer 1

pH - 7.35 to 7.45
PCO3 - 35 to 45 mm Hg
HCO3 - 22 to 26 typically some sources state 21 to 28 mEq/L
PaO2 - 80 to 100 mm Hg

Question 2

The nurse understands that the normal value range for sodium is

Answer 2

136 to 145 mEq/L

Question 3

The nurse understands that the normal value range for potassium is

Answer 3

3.5 to 5 mEq/L

Question 4

The nurse understands that the normal value range for calcium is

Answer 4

9 to 10.5 mg/dL

Question 5

The nurse understands that the normal value range for magnesium is

Answer 5

1.3 to 2.1 mEq/L

Question 6

The nurse understands that the normal value range for phosphorus is

Answer 6

3 to 4.5 mg/L

Question 7

The nurse understands that the normal value range for chloride is

Answer 7

98 to 106 mEq/L

Question 8

When analyzing the CBC results of a client the nurse understands that the normal RBC results for males verses females is:

Answer 8

Males: 4.7 to 6.1 million/uL
Females: 4.2 to 5.4 million/uL

Question 9

The nurse understands that the Hgb results on a CBC panel varies based on gender. The nurse would report the normal ranges for males and females as:

Answer 9

Males: 14 to 18 g/dL
Females: 12 to 16 g/dL

Question 10

The nurse understands that the Hct results on a CBC panel varies based on gender. The nurse would report the normal ranges for males and females as:

Answer 10

Males: 42% to 52%
Females: 37% to 47%

Question 11

When analyzing the CBC results of a client the nurse understands that the normal WBC result is:

Answer 11

5,000 to 10,000 mm3

Question 12

The nurse is reviewing a client’s ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The nurse understands that this value can be indicative of an inflammatory reaction and the normal value should be:

Answer 12

less than 20 mm/hr

Question 13

The nurse is reviewing a client’s liver function test results. The normal AST (aspartate transaminase) laboratory result is:

Answer 13

5 to 40 units/L

Question 14

The nurse is reviewing a client’s liver function test results. The normal ALT (alanine transaminase) laboratory result is:

Answer 14

3 to 35 units/L

Question 15

The nurse is analyzing a client’s liver function test results and notes an albumin level of 2 g/dL. The nurse understands that this value is? (High, Low, Normal)

Answer 15

The value is low. Normal albumin levels are 3.5 to 5 g/dL. Low levels of albumin can indicate renal disease, poor nutrition, liver disease, thyroid disease, or infection. High levels can indicate dehydration or severe diarrhea.

Question 16

The nurse is analyzing a client’s liver function test results and notes an ammonia level of 120 mcg/dL. The nurse understands that this value is? (High, low, normal)

Answer 16

The value is high. Normal ammonia levels are 10 to 80 mcg/dL. When the level is elevated the nurse would anticipate lactulose being prescribed to lower the level. Elevated ammonia levels indicate liver disease, hepatic encephalopathy, and renal disease/failure. In children or teens the elevation can be a sign of Reye syndrome.

Question 17

The nurse understands that the normal total bilirubin result will be:

Answer 17

0.1 to 1 mg/dL

Question 18

The nurse understands that the normal total protein result will be:

Answer 18

6 to 8 g/dL

Question 19

The normal range for ALP (alkaline phosphatase) is typically:

Answer 19

30 to 120 units/L

Question 20

What would the nurse anticipate as being typical abnormal lab results for a client with liver dysfunction? Would the result be elevated or decrease?

Answer 20

ALT - Elevated
AST - Elevated
ALP - Elevated
Bilirubin - Elevated
Ammonia - Elevated
PTT/INR - Prolonged
Creatinine - Elevated
Hemoglobin - Decreased
Platelets - Decreased
Albumin - Decreased

Question 21

The nurse understands that typical normal values for the PT laboratory test are:

Answer 21

11 to 12.5 seconds
Critical value is greater than 20 seconds

Question 22

The nurse understands that the typical normal range of aPTT, PTT, and INR are:

Answer 22

aPTT - 30 to 40 seconds Critical- greater than 70 sec
PTT - 60 TO 70 seconds
INR - 0.8 TO 1.1 Theraputic (anticoagulation) 2 to 3. Critical greater than 5

Question 23

The nurse understands that a clients platelet range should be:

Answer 23

150,000 to 400,000 / mm3
Critical values are less than 20,000 or greater than 1 million/mm3

Question 24

The nurse is analyzing a client’s renal function test results. The nurse understands that the serum creatinine is normally:

Answer 24

Males - 0.6 to 1.2 mg/dL
Females - 0.5 to 1.1 mg/dL
Indicates the rate the kidneys are able to clear creatinine from the blood.

Question 25

The nurse recognizes that a BUN of 18 mg/dL is considered? (high, low, normal)

Answer 25

Normal
BUN: 10 to 20 mg/dL
Indicates the kidney’s ability to excrete.

Question 26

The nurse is reviewing a client’s creatinine clearance test results. The nurse knows that normal ranges for this result are:

Answer 26

Males: 90 to 139 mL/min
Females: 80 to 125 mL/min
Best indicator of overall renal function

Question 27

The nurse understands that chronic kidney disease is staged. The GFR result indicates the stage of chronic kidney disease. The nurse would list the stage of chronic kidney disease as the following for a group of nursing students:

Answer 27

Stage 1 - GFR >90 mL/min
Stage 2 - GFR 60 to 89 mL/min
Stage 3 - GFR 30 to 59 mL/min
Stage 4 - GFR 15 to 29 mL/min
Stage 5 (ESRD) - <15 mL/min

Question 28

A normal fasting glucose range is:

Answer 28

70 to 105 mg/dL

Question 29

The nurse understands that normal hemoglobin A1C results are:

Answer 29

4% to 5.7 %

Question 30

The nurse understands that diabetic hemoglobin A1C results are:

Answer 30

6.5% or above, results greater than 8% indicate poor DM control.

Question 31

The nurse is preparing to administer a dosage of digoxin. When checking the client’s digoxin laboratory results the nurse would anticipate a therapeutic range of:

Answer 31

0.8 to 2 ng/mL

Question 32

The nurse is reviewing a client’s lithium laboratory results. The nurse would report the client is on a therapeutic dose of lithium if the result is:

Answer 32

0.4 to 1.4 mEq/L

Question 33

The nurse understands that the therapeutic range of phenobarbital is:

Answer 33

10 to 40 mcg/mL

Question 34

The nurse understands that the therapeutic range of theophylline is:

Answer 34

10 to 20 mcg/mL

Question 35

The therapeutic range for the medication phenytoin is:

Answer 35

10 to 20 mcg/mL

Question 36

The nurse is reviewing the results of a lipid panel to determine the effectiveness of statin therapy. The nurse understands that the desirable values of cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides are:

Answer 36

Total serum cholesterol: <200 mg/dL (>150 risk for CVA, MI)
LDL (low-density lipids): <130 mg/dL
HDL (high-density lipids) / good cholesterol: males >45 mg/dL; females >55 mg/dL
Triglycerides: males 40 to 160 mg/dL; females 35 to 135 mg/dL