NCLEX: LAB VALUES 2026 STUDY
GUIDE | NORMAL RANGES,
INTERPRETATION & PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED
SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,Albumin 3.5 - 5 g/dL
Urine specific gravity normal 1.015 - 1.024
Urine WBC 0 -4
RBC - male 4.6 - 6 million/microliter x 10^12/L
RBC - female 4.0 - 5.0 million/microliter x 10^12/L
HGB - hemoglobin, male 13.5 - 17 g/dL
HGB - hemoglobin, female 12 - 15 g/dL
HCT - hematocrit, male 40 - 50%
HCT - hematocrit, female 36 - 46%
PT - Prothrombin Time 10 - 13 sec
aPTT - activated Partial Thromboplastin Time 20 - 35 sec
INR (International Normalization Ratio) 2 - 3 for anticoagulant therapy
Platelet count 150,000 - 400,000 per microliter
Total Cholesterol (adult) <200
Urine specific gravity range 1.005 - 1.030
Total Cholesterol moderate risk 200-240
Total Cholesterol high risk >240
Urine WBC, indicates infection >4
PT, anticoagulation therapy, in sec 1.5 - 2 times the control
aPTT, anticoagulant therapy, in sec 1.5 - 2.5 times the control
Ionized Calcium, mg 4.25 - 5.25 mg/dL
Ionized Calcium, mEq 2.2 - 2.5 mEq/L
Osmolality 280 - 300 mOsm/kg
Uric Acid, male 3.5 - 8.0 mg/dL
,Uric Acid, female 2.8 - 6.8 mg/dL
BUN/Cr ratio 10:1 to 20:1
Total protein 6 - 8 g/dL
Globulin 1.5 - 3.5 g/dL
Iron 50 - 150 micrograms/dL
Transferrin 200 - 430 mg/dL
Iron binding capacity (TIBC) 250 - 450 micrograms/dL
d. K = 3.2 Nurse would be most concerned about which lab values obtained fro ma client
receiving furosemide (Lasix) therapy?
a. BUN 20
b. K 3.4
c. Creatinine 1.1
d. K 3.2
b. K Furosemide inhibits reabsorption of sodium, water, and K leading to diuresis. **
The most common electrolyte disturbance associated with furosemde admin is
hypokalemia
Nurse inserts a nasogastric tube, and it immediately drains 1000 mL of fluid. Which
of the follwoing electrolyte level is of greatest concern at this time?
a. Na
b. K
c. Cl
d. CO2
d. Hypocalcemia Hypokalemia is almost universal complication of loss of gastric hydrochloric acid.
Metabolic alkalosis results. Other electrolytes may be affected, but not to the
degree of potassium homeostasis is altered.
The nurse should observe for a Trousseau sign in the client with which of the
following electrolyte abnormalities?
a. Hypokalemia
b. Hyponatremia
c. Hypochloremia
d. Hypocalcemia
, d. wound dehisience Hypocalcemia causes excitability of skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle tissues.
Evidence of this is seen in the Trousseau sign, a carpopedal spasm.
The WBC count of a client is 18,000. the nurse attributes this value to which of the
following health problems of this client?
a. arthritis
b. alcoholism
c. viral infection
d. wound dehisience
B. intracellular Tissue injury can cause an increase in WBC
The majority of the body's water is contained in which of the following fluid
compartments?
A. interstitial
B. intracellular
C. extracellular
D. intravascular
A. osmosis. If the blood plasma has a higher osmolality than the fluid within a red blood cell,
the mechanism involved in equalizing the fluid concentration is
A. osmosis.
B. diffusion.
C. active transport.
D. facilitated diffusion.
A. weight loss. An elderly woman was admitted to the medical unit with dehydration. A clinical
indication of this problem is
A. weight loss.
B. full bounding pulse.
C. engorged neck veins.
D. Kussmaul respiration.
A. fluid Implementation of nursing care for the patient with hyponatremia includes
A. fluid restriction.
B. administration of hypotonic IV fluids.
C. administration of a cation exchange resin.
D. increased water intake for patients on nasogastric suction.
C. weak, irregular pulse and poor muscle tone A patient is receiving a loop diuretic. The nurse should be alert to which of the
following symptoms?
A. restlessness and agitation
B. paresthesias and irritability
C. weak, irregular pulse and poor muscle tone
D. increased blood pressure and muscle spasms
GUIDE | NORMAL RANGES,
INTERPRETATION & PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED
SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,Albumin 3.5 - 5 g/dL
Urine specific gravity normal 1.015 - 1.024
Urine WBC 0 -4
RBC - male 4.6 - 6 million/microliter x 10^12/L
RBC - female 4.0 - 5.0 million/microliter x 10^12/L
HGB - hemoglobin, male 13.5 - 17 g/dL
HGB - hemoglobin, female 12 - 15 g/dL
HCT - hematocrit, male 40 - 50%
HCT - hematocrit, female 36 - 46%
PT - Prothrombin Time 10 - 13 sec
aPTT - activated Partial Thromboplastin Time 20 - 35 sec
INR (International Normalization Ratio) 2 - 3 for anticoagulant therapy
Platelet count 150,000 - 400,000 per microliter
Total Cholesterol (adult) <200
Urine specific gravity range 1.005 - 1.030
Total Cholesterol moderate risk 200-240
Total Cholesterol high risk >240
Urine WBC, indicates infection >4
PT, anticoagulation therapy, in sec 1.5 - 2 times the control
aPTT, anticoagulant therapy, in sec 1.5 - 2.5 times the control
Ionized Calcium, mg 4.25 - 5.25 mg/dL
Ionized Calcium, mEq 2.2 - 2.5 mEq/L
Osmolality 280 - 300 mOsm/kg
Uric Acid, male 3.5 - 8.0 mg/dL
,Uric Acid, female 2.8 - 6.8 mg/dL
BUN/Cr ratio 10:1 to 20:1
Total protein 6 - 8 g/dL
Globulin 1.5 - 3.5 g/dL
Iron 50 - 150 micrograms/dL
Transferrin 200 - 430 mg/dL
Iron binding capacity (TIBC) 250 - 450 micrograms/dL
d. K = 3.2 Nurse would be most concerned about which lab values obtained fro ma client
receiving furosemide (Lasix) therapy?
a. BUN 20
b. K 3.4
c. Creatinine 1.1
d. K 3.2
b. K Furosemide inhibits reabsorption of sodium, water, and K leading to diuresis. **
The most common electrolyte disturbance associated with furosemde admin is
hypokalemia
Nurse inserts a nasogastric tube, and it immediately drains 1000 mL of fluid. Which
of the follwoing electrolyte level is of greatest concern at this time?
a. Na
b. K
c. Cl
d. CO2
d. Hypocalcemia Hypokalemia is almost universal complication of loss of gastric hydrochloric acid.
Metabolic alkalosis results. Other electrolytes may be affected, but not to the
degree of potassium homeostasis is altered.
The nurse should observe for a Trousseau sign in the client with which of the
following electrolyte abnormalities?
a. Hypokalemia
b. Hyponatremia
c. Hypochloremia
d. Hypocalcemia
, d. wound dehisience Hypocalcemia causes excitability of skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle tissues.
Evidence of this is seen in the Trousseau sign, a carpopedal spasm.
The WBC count of a client is 18,000. the nurse attributes this value to which of the
following health problems of this client?
a. arthritis
b. alcoholism
c. viral infection
d. wound dehisience
B. intracellular Tissue injury can cause an increase in WBC
The majority of the body's water is contained in which of the following fluid
compartments?
A. interstitial
B. intracellular
C. extracellular
D. intravascular
A. osmosis. If the blood plasma has a higher osmolality than the fluid within a red blood cell,
the mechanism involved in equalizing the fluid concentration is
A. osmosis.
B. diffusion.
C. active transport.
D. facilitated diffusion.
A. weight loss. An elderly woman was admitted to the medical unit with dehydration. A clinical
indication of this problem is
A. weight loss.
B. full bounding pulse.
C. engorged neck veins.
D. Kussmaul respiration.
A. fluid Implementation of nursing care for the patient with hyponatremia includes
A. fluid restriction.
B. administration of hypotonic IV fluids.
C. administration of a cation exchange resin.
D. increased water intake for patients on nasogastric suction.
C. weak, irregular pulse and poor muscle tone A patient is receiving a loop diuretic. The nurse should be alert to which of the
following symptoms?
A. restlessness and agitation
B. paresthesias and irritability
C. weak, irregular pulse and poor muscle tone
D. increased blood pressure and muscle spasms
