ESTUDYR
NCLEX-RN 2026 Quick Review Notes | Must-Know
Concepts & Memory Tricks
Introduction
This quick review guide is designed for nursing students preparing for the NCLEX-RN 2026
exam. It condenses high-yield information into an easy-to-digest format, focusing on
essential lab values, isolation precautions, key diseases, and effective mnemonics to aid
memory and understanding. This guide is ideal for last-minute revision and reinforcing
critical concepts.
Table of Contents
1 Essential Lab Values
2 Isolation Precautions
3 High-Yield Diseases & Conditions
4 Memory Tricks & Mnemonics
1. Essential Lab Values
Understanding normal lab values and recognizing critical deviations is crucial for NCLEX-RN
success. The following table summarizes the most frequently tested lab values.
Normal
Clinical Clinical
Lab Test Range Critical High Critical Low
Significance (High) Significance (Low)
(Adult)
Hematology
Anemia,
Hemoglobin Male: 13-17 Polycythemia,
>18 g/dL <7 g/dL Hemorrhage, Fluid
(Hgb) g/dL Dehydration
Overload
, ESTUDYR
Normal
Clinical Clinical
Lab Test Range Critical High Critical Low
Significance (High) Significance (Low)
(Adult)
Female: 12-
16 g/dL
Anemia,
Hematocrit Polycythemia,
Male: 39-50% >54% <21% Hemorrhage, Fluid
(Hct) Dehydration
Overload
Female: 35-
47%
150,000- Thrombocytopenia,
Platelets >1,000,000/mm³ <50,000/mm³ Thrombocytosis
400,000/mm³ Bleeding Risk
4,500- Infection, Immunosuppression,
WBC >30,000/mm³ <2,500/mm³
11,000/mm³ Inflammation Infection Risk
Electrolytes
Sodium 135-145 Hypernatremia, Hyponatremia, Fluid
>160 mEq/L <120 mEq/L
(Na+) mEq/L Dehydration Overload
Potassium 3.5-5.0 Hyperkalemia, Renal Hypokalemia,
>6.0 mEq/L <2.5 mEq/L
(K+) mEq/L Failure Dysrhythmias
Calcium 8.5-10.5 Hypercalcemia, Hypocalcemia,
>12 mg/dL <7 mg/dL
(Ca2+) mg/dL Malignancy Tetany
Magnesium 1.5-2.5 Hypermagnesemia, Hypomagnesemia,
>3.0 mEq/L <1.0 mEq/L
(Mg2+) mEq/L Renal Failure Dysrhythmias
Chloride (Cl- 95-105 Hyperchloremia, Hypochloremia,
>115 mEq/L <80 mEq/L
) mEq/L Acidosis Alkalosis
Phosphate 2.5-4.5 Hyperphosphatemia, Hypophosphatemia,
>6.0 mg/dL <1.0 mg/dL
(PO43-) mg/dL Renal Failure Muscle Weakness
Renal
Function
Renal Failure, Liver Disease,
BUN 10-20 mg/dL >100 mg/dL <5 mg/dL
Dehydration Malnutrition
Male: 0.6-1.2 Decreased Muscle
Creatinine >4.0 mg/dL <0.3 mg/dL Renal Impairment
mg/dL Mass
Female: 0.5-
1.1 mg/dL
NCLEX-RN 2026 Quick Review Notes | Must-Know
Concepts & Memory Tricks
Introduction
This quick review guide is designed for nursing students preparing for the NCLEX-RN 2026
exam. It condenses high-yield information into an easy-to-digest format, focusing on
essential lab values, isolation precautions, key diseases, and effective mnemonics to aid
memory and understanding. This guide is ideal for last-minute revision and reinforcing
critical concepts.
Table of Contents
1 Essential Lab Values
2 Isolation Precautions
3 High-Yield Diseases & Conditions
4 Memory Tricks & Mnemonics
1. Essential Lab Values
Understanding normal lab values and recognizing critical deviations is crucial for NCLEX-RN
success. The following table summarizes the most frequently tested lab values.
Normal
Clinical Clinical
Lab Test Range Critical High Critical Low
Significance (High) Significance (Low)
(Adult)
Hematology
Anemia,
Hemoglobin Male: 13-17 Polycythemia,
>18 g/dL <7 g/dL Hemorrhage, Fluid
(Hgb) g/dL Dehydration
Overload
, ESTUDYR
Normal
Clinical Clinical
Lab Test Range Critical High Critical Low
Significance (High) Significance (Low)
(Adult)
Female: 12-
16 g/dL
Anemia,
Hematocrit Polycythemia,
Male: 39-50% >54% <21% Hemorrhage, Fluid
(Hct) Dehydration
Overload
Female: 35-
47%
150,000- Thrombocytopenia,
Platelets >1,000,000/mm³ <50,000/mm³ Thrombocytosis
400,000/mm³ Bleeding Risk
4,500- Infection, Immunosuppression,
WBC >30,000/mm³ <2,500/mm³
11,000/mm³ Inflammation Infection Risk
Electrolytes
Sodium 135-145 Hypernatremia, Hyponatremia, Fluid
>160 mEq/L <120 mEq/L
(Na+) mEq/L Dehydration Overload
Potassium 3.5-5.0 Hyperkalemia, Renal Hypokalemia,
>6.0 mEq/L <2.5 mEq/L
(K+) mEq/L Failure Dysrhythmias
Calcium 8.5-10.5 Hypercalcemia, Hypocalcemia,
>12 mg/dL <7 mg/dL
(Ca2+) mg/dL Malignancy Tetany
Magnesium 1.5-2.5 Hypermagnesemia, Hypomagnesemia,
>3.0 mEq/L <1.0 mEq/L
(Mg2+) mEq/L Renal Failure Dysrhythmias
Chloride (Cl- 95-105 Hyperchloremia, Hypochloremia,
>115 mEq/L <80 mEq/L
) mEq/L Acidosis Alkalosis
Phosphate 2.5-4.5 Hyperphosphatemia, Hypophosphatemia,
>6.0 mg/dL <1.0 mg/dL
(PO43-) mg/dL Renal Failure Muscle Weakness
Renal
Function
Renal Failure, Liver Disease,
BUN 10-20 mg/dL >100 mg/dL <5 mg/dL
Dehydration Malnutrition
Male: 0.6-1.2 Decreased Muscle
Creatinine >4.0 mg/dL <0.3 mg/dL Renal Impairment
mg/dL Mass
Female: 0.5-
1.1 mg/dL
