Justin’s NCLEX Lab Values Cheat Sheet

Blood sample Normal Clinical Significance

Arterial Blood Gases PaO2 = 80- Panic Values for ABGs

(ABG) 100 mm Hg PaO2: < 40
PaCO2 = 35- PaCO2: < 20 or > 70
45 mm Hg pH: < 7.2 or > 7.6
pH = 7.35-7.45 HCO3: < 10 or > 40
HCO3 = 22-26 SaO2: < 60%
mEq/l
SaO2 = 95- * See more information regarding CO2 Retention.
99%
Degrees of Hypoxia:
mild: PaO2 of 60-80 mm
mod: PaO2 of 40-60 mm
severe: PaO2 < 40 mm

Hematocrit Female: 36- Low values = Anemia: monitor for fatigue, dyspnea,
(Hct) 46% tachycardia, tachypnea
Male: 42-52% *Anemia may present with a normal PulsOx.

RBC / Blood = ___ %

Hemoglobin Female: 12-15 Low values = Anemia: monitor for fatigue, dyspnea,
(Hgb) g/dl tachycardia, tachypnea
Male: 14-17
g/dl
Chemotherapy : < 10 -- hold aerobic exercise

RBC Count Female: 4 -5.5 Low values = Anemia: monitor for fatigue, dyspnea,
million/mm3 tachycardia, tachypnea
Male: 4.5 - 6.2
million/mm3
High values: In COPD, may indicate Polycythemia, a
compensation for pulmonary dysfunction that makes blood
thicker, and increases risk of CVA, etc.

"Sed Rate", Female: 1-25 Bad if elevated.

Erythrocyte mm/hr Used to diagnose, or follow the course of inflammatory
Sedimentation Rate Male: 0-17 diseases, e.g. rheumatic conditions
mm/hr
(ESR)
Alternative calculation of normal value:
Female: (age + 10) / 2
Male: age / 2

Total WBC Count 5,000 - 10,000 > 10,000 indicates systemic infection (more than just local
/mm3 colonization)

Chemotherapy :
< 5,000: use reverse isolation, see patient in room, careful
hygiene, hold aerobic exercise
 Justin’s NCLEX Lab Values Cheat Sheet
Platelets, 200,000 - Chemotherapy:
Thrombocytes 500,000 /mm3
 30,000 – 50,000: avoid resisted exercise, risk of
internal hemorrhage, ambulation OK
 < 30,000: bedside, gentle AROM
 < 20,000: consult with physician or nurse before
activity

 BUN  6 – 22 mg/dL Low are not common and not usually cause for concern, but
may be severe liver disease, malnutrition

High suggest impaired kidney function

Creatinine Female: 0.6 - Renal function measure: high values are bad.
1.2 mg/dl May indicate nephropathy, end stage renal d.
Male: 0.5 - 1.1 Can occur in brittle diabetics also.
mg/dl

Elderly values are

lower because of
reduced muscle
mass

 Albumin  3.4 – 5.4 g/dL Low can suggest liver disease, inflammation, shock, and
malnutrition

High can be seen with dehydration

Potassium (K) 3.5 - 5.0 mEq/l Low (hypokalemia) secondary to: vomiting, diarrhea,
sweating, or use of loop diuretics e.g. Lasix, furosemide. Also
increases the risk of digitalis toxicity.
Result of low K: ventricular arrhythmias

High (hyperkalemia) secondary to: overuse of K

supplements, renal or endocrine problem.
Result of high K: ventricular arrhythmias, asystole

Calcium (Ca) 8.2 -10.2 mg/dl Low (hypocalcemia): secondary to: abuse of laxatives,
renal failure, low dietary calcium or Vit. D intake, excessive
magnesium intake.
Result of low Ca: osteoporosis, muscle spasms / tetany,
calcium deposits in tissue; cardiac arrhythmia, asystole

High (hypercalcemia): secondary to: immobilization,

metastatic bone CA; overuse of antacids containing calcium
Result of high Ca:
thirst; polyuria; renal stones; decreased muscle tone and
DTRs; tachycardia; cardiac arrhythmia, asystole
 Justin’s NCLEX Lab Values Cheat Sheet
Sodium (Na) 136 -145 mEq/l Low (hyponatremia) secondary to: fluid loss from diarrhea,
vomiting, diaphoresis, diuretic use.
Result of low Na: postural hypotension, abdominal cramps,
headache, fatigue, weakness

High (hypernatremia) secondary to: dehydration, high salt

intake, poor renal function
Result of high Na: edema, tachycardia

Diabetes   Clinical Significance

A 12 hour fasting blood glucose (FBG) reading at this level is

Blood Glucose: 100 -125 diagnostic of "pre-diabetes", insulin resistance, or glucose
for diagnosis mg/dl intolerance.
It may be a component of metabolic syndrome.

Blood Glucose: A 12 hour fasting blood glucose (FBG) reading, on 2 different days at
> 126 mg/dl
for diagnosis this level is diagnostic of diabetes.

Glycosylated 4 - 6% is Lab work done at the doctor's office, that gives an average of the last
Hemoglobin normal 3 month's BG.
(HBA1c) or A1c The goal for diabetic patients it to keep the value < 7%

Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) results for COPD and for RLD

  FVC FEV1 FEV1 / FVC

Decreased. Decreased. Decreased.

Mild: 65-80% of predicted Mild: 65-80% of predicted Mild: 65-80% of predicted
COPD Mod: 50-65% of predicted Mod: 50-65% of predicted Mod: 50-65% of predicted
Severe: < 50% of predicted Severe: < 50% of predicted Severe: < 50% of predicted

Decreased. Decreased. Normal or increased.

Mild: 65-80% of predicted Mild: 65-80% of predicted 80-100% of predicted
RLD Mod: 50-65% of predicted Mod: 50-65% of predicted
Severe: < 50% of predicted Severe: < 50% of predicted

BMI
Underweight < 18.5
Normal weight 18.5 - 24.9
Overweight 25 - 29.9
Obesity > 30
Morbid Obesity > 40

Drugs

Drug Range Considerations

PTT 1.5 – 2 times the Used for Heparin monitoring
pretreatment Prolonged time means taking too long for blood to clot
 Justin’s NCLEX Lab Values Cheat Sheet
INR/PT 2-3 Used for Coumadin monitoring
Digoxin 0.5 – 2.0 ng/ml Toxicity causes blurred vision with yellow/green halos,
N/V, irregular heartbeat, and HYPOkalemia (no Lasix)
Lithium 0.6 – 1.2 mEq/L Toxicity causes flu-like symptoms which become severe
with blurred vision, tinnitus, and seizures.