NCLEX-RN 2025 Exam Review: Ready-
to-Pass Edition
What are the normal ranges for PT? What is PT used to help regulate? What is the therapeutic range?
11-12.5 is a normal PT range
PT is used to help regulate Coumadin dosages. The therapeutic range: 1.5 to 2 times normal or control
When introducing foods to infants what should you teach the new parents?
Introduce one food at a time to help identify allergies.
Progression of food should be "AS TOLERATED"
The nursing assessment guides decisions about progression.
If a question is related to the nursing process, read the question to determine the step of the nursing
process. What are the steps in the nursing process and what kind of question might be related to that
step.
Assessment question address the gathering and verification of data.
Analysis questions require the nurse to: interpret data, collect additional information, identify and
communicate nursing diagnoses and determine the health team's ability to meet the pts needs.
Planning questions ask about determining, prioritizing, and modifying outcomes of care.
Implementation questions reflect the management and organization of care and the assignment and
delegation of tasks. Be prepared for questions on client teaching.
Evaluation questions focus on comparing the actual outcomes of care with the expected outcomes and
on communicating and documenting findings.
What are the normal ranges for H&H? What are the nursing implications
Hemoglobin - Male 14-18 Female 12-16 Newborn 14-24
High altitude living increases value, slight decrease during pregnancy. Drug therapy can alter values.
Hematocrit - Male 42-52 Female 37-47 Newborn 44-64
Prolonged stasis from vasoconstriction secondary to the tourniquet can alter values. Abnormalities in
RBC size may alter Hct values
What are the normal ranges for WBC?
What can increase values?
,What can decrease values?
How long does the postpartum period of pregnancy affect normal ranges? What range is normal
during the postpartum period?
Both genders 5000-10000 Newborn 9000-30000
Anesthetics, stress, exercise, and convulsions can increased values.
Drug therapy can decrease values.
24-28 hr postpartum: a count as high as 25000 is normal
What are the normal ranges for RBC?
What can increase levels
What happens to levels during pregnancy?
Males: 4.7-6.1 million
Female: 4.2-5.4 million
Exercise and high altitudes can cause an increase levels
pregnancy usually lower values
drug therapy can alter values
Never draw a specimen from an arm with an infusing IV.
What are the normal ranges for PLATELETS?
What may increase values?
What may decrease values?
What drugs decrease values?
Both Genders: 150000-400000
Living at high altitudes, exercising strenuously or taking oral contraceptives may increase values
decreased values may be caused by hemorrhage, DIC, reduced production of platelets, infections, use of
prosthetic heart valves, and drugs.
Drugs that decrease platelets: acetaminophen, aspirin, chemotherapy, H2 blockers, INH, Levaquin,
streptomycin, sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics.
What are the normal ranges for K+? What should you keep in mind when getting a specimen?
3.5-5 is normal range for potassium
Exercise of the forearm with tourniquet in place may cause an increased level. Hemolysis of specimen
can result in a falsely elevated value
What are the normal ranges for Na+? What should you consider when collecting a specimen?
136-145 is a normal sodium range
Do Not collect from an arm with an infusing IV solution
, What are the normal ranges for Ca+?
What type of drug can increase calcium levels?
What are two tests with positive results that are associated with hypocalcemia?
How do you preform the two tests?
9-10.5 for adults. slightly lower in the elder
Use of thiazide diuretics can cause increased levels of calcium
Positive Chvostek and Trousseau tests are associated with hypocalcemia.
• Chvostek sign: contraction of ipsilateral facial muscles when the facial nerve is tapped just in front of
the ear.
• Trousseau sign: carpopedal spasm elicited by inflating a sphygmomanometer above systolic BP for 3
minutes.
What are the normal ranges for Mg+?
What may high magnesium levels indicate?
What may low magnesium levels indicate?
1.7-2.2
A high magnesium level may indicate: Addison disease
Chronic renal failure, Dehydration, Diabetic acidosis
Oliguria
A low magnesium level may indicate: Alcoholism
Chronic diarrhea, Delirium tremens, Hemodialysis
Hepatic (liver) cirrhosis, Hyperaldosteronism
Hypoparathyroidism, Pancreatitis, Too much insulin
Toxemia of pregnancy, Ulcerative colitis
What are the normal ranges for Cl-
98-106 is the normal range for chloride
What are the normal ranges for ALP (alkaline phosphatase)?
30-120
slightly increased in the elderly
When selecting an NCLEX answer or determining the order of priority what should you remember or
use and what is the exception?
Use the ABC rule: Airway breathing, and circulation. The exception to the rule is with actual CPR, use C-
A-B for CPR. Also remember safety first and acute before chronic. If the pt. is not in distress then you
assess. If the pt is in distress then you should do something. If the pt has diaphorisis you should always
do something.
to-Pass Edition
What are the normal ranges for PT? What is PT used to help regulate? What is the therapeutic range?
11-12.5 is a normal PT range
PT is used to help regulate Coumadin dosages. The therapeutic range: 1.5 to 2 times normal or control
When introducing foods to infants what should you teach the new parents?
Introduce one food at a time to help identify allergies.
Progression of food should be "AS TOLERATED"
The nursing assessment guides decisions about progression.
If a question is related to the nursing process, read the question to determine the step of the nursing
process. What are the steps in the nursing process and what kind of question might be related to that
step.
Assessment question address the gathering and verification of data.
Analysis questions require the nurse to: interpret data, collect additional information, identify and
communicate nursing diagnoses and determine the health team's ability to meet the pts needs.
Planning questions ask about determining, prioritizing, and modifying outcomes of care.
Implementation questions reflect the management and organization of care and the assignment and
delegation of tasks. Be prepared for questions on client teaching.
Evaluation questions focus on comparing the actual outcomes of care with the expected outcomes and
on communicating and documenting findings.
What are the normal ranges for H&H? What are the nursing implications
Hemoglobin - Male 14-18 Female 12-16 Newborn 14-24
High altitude living increases value, slight decrease during pregnancy. Drug therapy can alter values.
Hematocrit - Male 42-52 Female 37-47 Newborn 44-64
Prolonged stasis from vasoconstriction secondary to the tourniquet can alter values. Abnormalities in
RBC size may alter Hct values
What are the normal ranges for WBC?
What can increase values?
,What can decrease values?
How long does the postpartum period of pregnancy affect normal ranges? What range is normal
during the postpartum period?
Both genders 5000-10000 Newborn 9000-30000
Anesthetics, stress, exercise, and convulsions can increased values.
Drug therapy can decrease values.
24-28 hr postpartum: a count as high as 25000 is normal
What are the normal ranges for RBC?
What can increase levels
What happens to levels during pregnancy?
Males: 4.7-6.1 million
Female: 4.2-5.4 million
Exercise and high altitudes can cause an increase levels
pregnancy usually lower values
drug therapy can alter values
Never draw a specimen from an arm with an infusing IV.
What are the normal ranges for PLATELETS?
What may increase values?
What may decrease values?
What drugs decrease values?
Both Genders: 150000-400000
Living at high altitudes, exercising strenuously or taking oral contraceptives may increase values
decreased values may be caused by hemorrhage, DIC, reduced production of platelets, infections, use of
prosthetic heart valves, and drugs.
Drugs that decrease platelets: acetaminophen, aspirin, chemotherapy, H2 blockers, INH, Levaquin,
streptomycin, sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics.
What are the normal ranges for K+? What should you keep in mind when getting a specimen?
3.5-5 is normal range for potassium
Exercise of the forearm with tourniquet in place may cause an increased level. Hemolysis of specimen
can result in a falsely elevated value
What are the normal ranges for Na+? What should you consider when collecting a specimen?
136-145 is a normal sodium range
Do Not collect from an arm with an infusing IV solution
, What are the normal ranges for Ca+?
What type of drug can increase calcium levels?
What are two tests with positive results that are associated with hypocalcemia?
How do you preform the two tests?
9-10.5 for adults. slightly lower in the elder
Use of thiazide diuretics can cause increased levels of calcium
Positive Chvostek and Trousseau tests are associated with hypocalcemia.
• Chvostek sign: contraction of ipsilateral facial muscles when the facial nerve is tapped just in front of
the ear.
• Trousseau sign: carpopedal spasm elicited by inflating a sphygmomanometer above systolic BP for 3
minutes.
What are the normal ranges for Mg+?
What may high magnesium levels indicate?
What may low magnesium levels indicate?
1.7-2.2
A high magnesium level may indicate: Addison disease
Chronic renal failure, Dehydration, Diabetic acidosis
Oliguria
A low magnesium level may indicate: Alcoholism
Chronic diarrhea, Delirium tremens, Hemodialysis
Hepatic (liver) cirrhosis, Hyperaldosteronism
Hypoparathyroidism, Pancreatitis, Too much insulin
Toxemia of pregnancy, Ulcerative colitis
What are the normal ranges for Cl-
98-106 is the normal range for chloride
What are the normal ranges for ALP (alkaline phosphatase)?
30-120
slightly increased in the elderly
When selecting an NCLEX answer or determining the order of priority what should you remember or
use and what is the exception?
Use the ABC rule: Airway breathing, and circulation. The exception to the rule is with actual CPR, use C-
A-B for CPR. Also remember safety first and acute before chronic. If the pt. is not in distress then you
assess. If the pt is in distress then you should do something. If the pt has diaphorisis you should always
do something.
