1. TEST INFO:
Maximum time allocated for an Nclex Exam 6 hours
There are a minimum of 75questions and a maximum of 265 questions
Read the questions and answers carefully. Don’t jump into any conclusions without thinking about the concept.
Look at the keywords easy, never, always, all, every, only, must, except, none or no.
Always read the question from the beginning
Eliminate all incorrect answers
Always check the grammatical inconsistencies. Some answers might trick you with wrong spellings
Rephrase the question in your own simpler language
Make educated guess
2. VITAL SIGNS
Heart rate: 80 -100 bpm
Respiratory rate: 12-20 rpm
Blood pressure: 110 -120/60 mmHg
Temperature: 37 degrees
3. HEMATOLOGY VALUES
RBCs: 4.5—5.0 million
WBCs: 5,000—10,000
Platelets: 200,000—400,000
Hemoglobin (Hgb): 12—16 gm (female); 14—18 gm (male)
Hematocrit (Hct): 37—47 (female); 40— 54 (male)
4. ABG Values
pH: 7.36—7.45
HCO3: 24—26 mEq/L
CO2: 35—45 mEq/L
PaO2: 80%—100%
SaO2: >95%
5. Acid Base Balance
Remember ROME (respiratory opposite/metabolic equal) to remember that in respiratory acid/base
disorders the pH is opposite to the other components.
Use the Tic-Tac-Toe Method for interpreting ABGs. Read more about it
, 6. CHEMISTRY VALUES
Glucose: 70—110 mg/dL
pecific Gravity: 1.010—1.030
BUN: 7-22 mg/dL
Serum creatinine: 0.6—1.35 mg/dL
LDH: 100-190 U/L
Protein: 6.2—8.1 g/dL
Albumin: 3.4—5.0 g/dL
Bilirubin: <1.0 mg/dL
Total Cholesterol: 130—200 mg/dL
Triglyceride: 40—50 mg/dL
Uric acid: 3.5—7.5 mg/dL
CPK: 21-232 U/L
7. Therapeutic drug levels
Carbamazepine (Tegretol): 4—10
mcg/ml
Digoxin (Lanoxin): 0.8—2.0 ng/ml
Gentamycin (Garamycin): 5—10 mcg/ml
(peak), <2.0 mcg/ml (valley)
Lithium (Eskalith): 0.8—1.5 mEq/L
Phenobarbital (Solfoton): 15—40
mcg/mL
Phenytoin (Dilantin): 10—20 mcg/dL
Theophylline (Aminophylline): 10—20
mcg/dL
Tobramycin (Tobrex): 5—10 mcg/mL
(peak), 0.5—2.0 mcg/mL (valley)
Valproic Acid (Depakene): 50—100
mcg/ml
Vancomycin (Vancocin): 20—40 mcg/ml
(peak), 5 to 15 mcg/ml (trough)
8. Anticoagulant therapy
Sodium warfarin (Coumadin) PT: 10—12
seconds (control). The antidote is
Vitamin K.
INR (Coumadin): 0.9—1.2
Heparin PTT: 30—45 seconds (control)
The antidote is protamine sulfate.