Nursing Fundamentals NCLEX

Lab Value Ranges:

Electrolytes

Sodium 136-145 mEq/L

Potassium 3.5-5.0 mEq/L        

Total Calcium 9.0-10.5 mg/dL

Magnesium 1.3-2.1 mg/dL

Phosphorus 3.0–4.5 mg/dL

Kidney Function

BUN: 10-20 mg/dL

Creatinine: 0.6 – 1.2 mg/dL males & 0.5 – 1.1 mg/dL females

Labs

HgbA1c: <6.5%

WBC: 5,000-10,000/mm3

RBC: Men 4.7-6.1 million/mm3 & Women 4.2-5.4 million/mm3 Both: 4.2-6.1

Hemoglobin: Men 14-18 g/100 mL & Women 12-16 g/100 mL → Both: 12-18

Hematocrit: Men 42-52% & Women 37-47% → Both: 37-52%

Platelet: 150,000-400,000/mm3

Normal PT = 11-12.5 sec & Normal INR = 0.7-1.8 (Therapeutic INR 2-3)

  • Assesses how well your blood clots & effectiveness of anticoagulation therapy.

Normal PTT = 30-40 sec (Therapeutic PTT 1.5 – 2 x normal or control values)

  • Assesses how long your blood takes to clot

Glucose: 70 -105

Medication Therapeutic Ranges

Digoxin: 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL

Lithium: 0.8 to 1.4 mEq/L

  • High = constipation

  • Toxicity = excess salivation

Dilantin: 10-20 mcg/mL

Theophylline: 10 to 20 mcg/mL

Acid-Base Values

pH: 7.35-7.45

PaC02: 35 to 45 mmHg

HCO3: 22-26 mmol/L

p02: 80-100 mmHg

Latex Allergies:

Note that clients allergic to bananas, apricots, cherries, grapes, kiwis, passion fruit, avocados, chestnuts, tomatoes, and/or peaches may experience latex allergies as well.

Think → “BackpatCPG”

Order of Assessments:

I-inspection

P-palpation

P-percussion

A-auscultation

Except with abdomen it is IAPP-inspect, auscultate, percuss and palpate.

Assistive Devices:

Cane Walking: “COAL”

C-cane

O-opposite

A-affected

L-leg

  • The cane should be with the good leg to offer support for the weak leg.

Walker: “Wandering Wilma’s Always Late”

  • Walker with affected leg

Crutch Walking:

Remember the phase “step up” when picturing a person going up stairs with crutches.

  • Going Upstairs: The good leg goes up first followed by the crutches and the bad leg.

  • Going Downstairs: The opposite (crutches and bad leg followed by good leg) OR “up to heaven…down to hell”

Delegation:

RNs DO NOT delegate what they can EAT.

E-evaluate

A-assess

T-teach

Isolation Precautions:

AIRBORNE:  "My Chicken Hez TB" 

-Measles
-Chicken pox
-Herpes zoster
-TB

Management:

  • Neg. pressure room

  • Private room

  • Mask (N-95 for TB)

DROPLET: "SPIDERMAn"
-Sepsis
-Scarlet Fever
-Strep 
-Pertussis
-Pneumonia
-Parvovirus
-Influenza
-Diphtheria
-Epiglottitis
-Rubella
-Mumps
-Adenovirus

Management:

  • Private room

  • Mask


CONTACT: "MRS WEE"

-MRSA

-VRSA

-RSV

-Skin infections (herpes zoster, cutaneous diphtheria, impetigo, pediculosis, scabies, and staphylococcus)

-Wound infections

-Enteric infections (C. diff)

-Eye infections (conjunctivitis)

Management:

  • gown

  • gloves

  • goggles

  • private room