{"id":28373,"date":"2025-10-06T18:22:41","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T18:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.picmonic.com\/pages\/?p=28373"},"modified":"2025-10-06T18:25:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T18:25:17","slug":"how-to-remember-nursing-lab-values-for-the-nclex-exam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.picmonic.com\/pages\/how-to-remember-nursing-lab-values-for-the-nclex-exam\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Remember Nursing Lab Values for the NCLEX Exam"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Urine, blood, and tissue samples enable nurses to identify risks and monitor patient health on a daily basis. Lab values must be accurately recorded, regularly monitored, and thoroughly evaluated by every licensed nurse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), you must memorize the normal range of lab values and understand what abnormal results could mean for a patient\u2019s health. While challenging, this feat can be conquered with the right study approach. Explore our guide on how to recall nursing lab values for the NCLEX!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Lab Values Nursing Students Must Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are numerous nursing lab values to remember. If numbers aren\u2019t your forte, it can be tricky to recall each value. That\u2019s where we come in\u2014we\u2019ve compiled and highlighted the common values you need to know before the NCLEX. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Complete Blood Count (CBC)\n
      \n
    1. Hemoglobin\n
        \n
      1. Men: 13-17 g\/dL<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Women: 12-16 g\/dL<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Hemotacrit (HCT)\n
          \n
        1. Men: 41-53%<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Women: 36-46%<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. White Blood Cells (WBC): 4,500-11,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. Platelet: 150,000-400,000<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Comprehensive Metabolic Panel\n
            \n
          1. Potassium (K+): 3.5 to 5.0 mEq\/L<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. Calcium (Ca2+): 8.5 to 10.5 mg\/dL<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          3. Phosphate (PO43\u2013): 2.5 to 4.5 mg\/dL<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          4. Magnesium (Mg2+): 1.5 to 2.5 mEq\/L<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          5. Sodium (Na+): 135 to 145 mEq\/L<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          6. Chloride (Cl\u2013): 95 to 105 mEq\/L<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          7. Fasting Glucose: 70-100 mg\/dL<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          8. BUN: 10-20 mg\/dL<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          9. Creatinine: 0.6-1.3mg\/dL<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          10. Liver Enzyme Tests\n
              \n
            1. AST: 8-20 U\/L<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            2. ALT: 8-20 U\/L<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            3. Arterial Blood Gases\n
                \n
              1. pO2: 75-100%<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              2. O2 saturation: 95-100% SaO\u2082<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              3. pH: 7.35-7.45<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              4. PaCO2: 35-45 mmHg<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              5. HCO3: 22-26 mEq\/L<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              6. Coagulation Level\n
                  \n
                1. INR\n
                    \n
                  1. Normal: 0.8-1.2\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  2. With Warfarin: 2.0-3.0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  3. PT: 10-14 seconds<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  4. PTT or aPTT: 25-35 seconds<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  5. Lipid Panel\n
                      \n
                    1. High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)\n
                        \n
                      1. Men: >40 mg\/dL<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      2. Women: >50mg\/dL<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      3. Low Density Cholesterol (LDC): <100<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      4. Total Cholesterol: <200mg\/dL<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      5. Triglycerides: <150mg\/dL<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      6. Hemoglobin A1C\n
                          \n
                        1. Normal: < 5.7%<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        2. Prediabetes: 5.7%-6%<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        3. Diabetes: > 6.5%<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        4. Cardiac Biomarkers\n
                            \n
                          1. Troponin\n
                              \n
                            1. Troponin T: <0.1ng\/mL<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            2. Troponin I: <0.5 ng\/mL<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                              *Note: These values are within general clinical ranges. However, values may vary by lab\/assay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              Pro Tip: Group Values by System, Not Numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                              Group electrolytes, hematology, lipids, and other systems into their own lists. Study each list separately, rather than all at once. By doing this, you\u2019re utilizing a memory technique known as chunking, which breaks down large amounts of information into manageable groups to facilitate easier recall. Think of it as an information bucket\u2014a group of smaller buckets is easier to carry (or remember, in this case) than a large one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              Recognize What Abnormal Lab Values Might Signal <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                              Lab values, whether high or low, help nurses identify risk factors for diseases, aid in diagnosing a condition, monitor a patient\u2019s health, and more. The ability to recognize and analyze abnormal lab results is essential for the NCLEX. You\u2019ll be asked to identify these values as well as the course of action to take when the value is low or high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                              Below are just a few examples of what abnormal lab values could signal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n