ATI- Capstone

Blood Chemistry and Metabolic Laboratory Values

• Total Calcium: $9.0-10.5\,mg/dL$

• Magnesium: $1.3-2.1\,mg/dL$

• Phosphorus: $3.0-4.5\,mg/dL$

• Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): $10-20\,mg/dL$

• Creatinine:

  • Males: $0.6-1.2\,mg/dL$

  • Females: $0.5-1.1\,mg/dL$

• Glucose: $70-105\,mg/dL$

• Hemoglobin A1c (HgbA1c): <6.5\%

Hematological Profiles and Coagulation Studies

• White Blood Cell (WBC) Count: $5,000-10,000/mm^3$

• Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count:

  • Men: $4.7-6.1\,\text{million}/mm^3$

  • Women: $4.2-5.4\,\text{million}/mm$

• Hemoglobin:

  • Men: $14-18\,g/100\,mL$

  • Women: $12-16\,g/100\,mL$

• Hematocrit:

  • Men: $42-52\%$

  • Women: $37-47\%$

• Platelet Count: $150,000-400,000/mm^3$

• Prothrombin Time (PT): $11-12.5\,sec$

• International Normalized Ratio (INR):

  • Normal: $0.7-1.8$

  • Therapeutic: $2-3$

• Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT):

  • Normal: $30-40\,sec$

  • Therapeutic: $1.5-2 \times \text{normal or control}$

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Reference Ranges

• pH: $7.35-7.45$

• Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide ($pCO_2$): $35-45\,mm\,Hg$

• Partial Pressure of Oxygen ($pO_2$): $80-100\,mm\,Hg$

• Bicarbonate ($HCO_3$): $21-26\,mmol/L$

Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Levels

• Digoxin: $0.5-2.0\,ng/mL$

• Lithium: $0.8-1.4\,mEq/L$

• Dilantin: $10-20\,mcg/mL$

• Theophylline: $10-20\,mcg/mL$

Physical Assessment Techniques and Sequence

• Standard Order of Assessment:

  • I: Inspection

  • P: Palpation

  • P: Percussion

  • A: Auscultation

• Abdominal Order of Assessment Exception (I-A-P-P):

  • I: Inspect

  • A: Auscultate

  • P: Percuss

  • P: Palpate

Mobility Assistance and Device Usage

• Cane Walking Mnemonic (COAL):

  • C: Cane

  • O: Opposite

  • A: Affected

  • L: Leg

• Crutch Walking Guidelines:

  • Going up stairs ("Step up"): Picture the person going up with the good leg first, followed by the crutches and the bad leg.

  • Going down stairs ("Down to hell"): The opposite applies, with the bad leg and crutches leading the descent.

Nursing Delegation Guidelines

• Registered Nurses (RNs) must never delegate tasks they can "EAT":

  • E: Evaluate

  • A: Assess

  • T: Teach

Clinical Isolation Precautions and Disease Management

• Airborne Precautions Mnemonic: "My Chicken Hez TB"

  • Conditions: Measles, Chicken pox, Herpes zoster, and Tuberculosis (TB).

  • Management protocol: Negative pressure room, private room, mask, and an N-95 respirator specifically for TB cases.

• Droplet Precautions Mnemonic: "SPIDERMAN"

  • Conditions: Sepsis, Scarlet Fever, Streptococcal pharyngitis (Strep), Pertussis, Pneumonia, Parvovirus, Influenza, Diphtheria, Epiglottitis, Rubella, Mumps, and Adenovirus.

• Contact Precautions Mnemonic: "MRS WEE"

  • Conditions: MRSA, VRSA, RSV, Wound infections, Enteric infections (e.g., Clostridium difficile), and Eye infections (e.g., conjunctivitis).

  • Skin infections included: Herpes zoster, cutaneous diphtheria, impetigo, pediculosis, scabies, and staphylococcus.

  • Management protocol: Gown, gloves, goggles, and private room.

Latex Allergies and Dietary Cross-Reactivities

• Clients who exhibit allergies to the following items may also experience sensitivities or allergies to latex:

  • Bananas

  • Apricots

  • Cherries

  • Grapes

  • Kiwis

  • Passi tomatoes

  • Peaches

Clinical Examination Strategies

• General Advice: Slow down! Misreading questions rapidly often results in errors.

• Recommended Testing Routine:

  • Take a deep breath in and out before approaching each question.

  • Read the question stem thoroughly.

  • Review all available choices.

  • Re-read the question a final time to ensure absolute understanding of the core inquiry.