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Key Concepts for an NCLEX-RN Cram Sheet

Vital signs

 HR: 60-100 bpm  BP: 90/60 to 120/80 mm Hg  RR: 12 to 20 breaths per minute  Temp: 36 to 37°C (97-99°F)

Lab values

Blood Gas

 pH: 7-7.  PaO 2 : 80-100 mm Hg  PaCO 2 : 35-45 mm Hg  HCO 3 : 22-26 mEq/L  SaO 2 : > 95%

Lipoproteins & Triglycerides

 Total: < 200 mg/dL  Triglycerides: < 150 mg/dL  HDL: > 60 mg/dL  LDL: < 70 mg/dL  AST: < 40 u/L  ALT: < 40 u/L  ALP: 42-128 u/L

Hematology

 HCT female: 37-47%  HCT male: 42-52%  HGB female: 12-16 g/dL  HGB male: 14-18 g/dL  WBC: 5,000-10,000 /uL  Platelets: 150,000-400,000 mm 3  PT: 11-12 seconds (1.5-2 times this if on Warfarin)  aPTT: 30-40 seconds (1-2 times this if on Heparin)  INR: on Warfarin 2-3, not on Warfarin 0-1.

Cardiac markers

 Troponin: < 0 ng/mL  C-reactive protein: ≤ 0 mg/dL  CD40 ligand: 1.51-5 mg/L  Creatinine kinase: 0-3 mcg/L

Serum electrolytes

 Sodium: 135-145 mEq/L  Potassium: 3-5 mEq/L  Chloride: 98-106 mEq/L  Calcium: 9-10 mEq/L  Magnesium: 1.3-2 mEq/L (therapeutic range), 4- mEq/L if on magnesium  Phosphorus: 3.5-4 mEq/L

Chemistry

 Amylase: 56-90 IU/L  Lipase: 0-110 units/L  Total bilirubin: 0-1 mg/dL  Albumin: 3-5 g/dL  Alfa-fetoprotein: < 10 ng/mL is normal for adults > 500 could indicate liver tumors.  Ammonia: 15-110 mg/dL  BUN: 10-20 mg/dL  Serum creatinine: 0.6-1 mg/dL  Creatinine clearance: females 80-125 mL/min, males 90-139 mL/min  GFR: 125 mL/min  Fasting blood glucose: < 100 mg/dL  HbA1C: < 5 is normal, 5.7-6 prediabetic, 6 or higher on two separate tests means diabetes.

Thyroid function

 Total T3: 70-205 ng/dL  T4: 4-12 mcg/dL  TSH: 0.4-0 microunits/mL

Urinalysis

 Urine spec grav: 1-1.  Volume: 1-2 L/day  pH: 4-  Glucose: < 130 mg/dL  RBC: ≤ 3 RBCs  WBCs: ≤ 2-5 WBCs/hpf  Protein: ≤ 150 mg/dL  Bacteria: none  Ketones: none  Nitrites: neg

Conversions

 1 tsp = 5 mL  1 tbsp = 3 tsp  1 oz = 30 mL  1 cup = 8 oz  1 pint = 2 cups  1 quart = 2 pints  1 kg = 2 lbs

Therapeutic drug levels

 Carbamazepine: 4-12 mcg/mL  Digoxin: 0-2 ng/mL  Gentamycin: 5-10 mcg/mL  Lithium: 0.8-1 mEq/L  Phenobarbital: 10-40 mcg/mL  Phenytoin: 10-20 mcg/mL  Theophylline: 10-20 mcg/dL  Valproic acid: 50-125 mcg/mL, toxic if greater than 150 mcg/mL

Pharmacology

Knowing every single drug may seem like an impossible feat. But by adding drug categories and their corresponding name endings to your NCLEX-RN cram sheet, memorization will become easier, and you’ll be able to eliminate many answer choices on your pharm questions!

 ACE inhibitors end in: -pril (lisinopril)  Beta-blockers end in: -olol (propranolol)  Abx end in: -ycin or -cillin (erythromycin, penicillin)  Benzodiazepines end in: -pam (diazepam)  Phenothiazines end in: -zine (promethazine)  Glucocorticoids end in: -one (prednisone)  Antivirals end in: -vir (acyclovir)  Cholesterol lowering drugs end in: -statin (atorvastatin)  ARBs end in: -artan (valsartan)  H2 receptor blockers end in: -tidine (cimetidine)  PPIs end in: -azole (pantoprazole)  Anticoagulants end in: -arin (heparin)

Acid-base balance

Most nursing students agree that acid-base balance questions are among the most challenging. Luckily, this tip will help you work your way through these difficult questions:

Simply remember ROME (respiratory opposite/metabolic equal). If the imbalance is respiratory, the pH and PaCO 2 will move in opposite directions to correct. If the imbalance is metabolic, the pH and HCO 3 will move in the same direction to correct.

Here’s a breakdown of how to figure out what type of alkalosis or acidosis someone is experiencing:

 Respiratory acidosis: pH low, PaCO 2 high, HCO 3 normal  Respiratory alkalosis: pH high, PaCO 2 low, HCO 3 normal  Metabolic acidosis: pH low, PaCO 2 normal, HCO 3 low  Metabolic alkalosis: pH high, PaCO 2 normal, HCO 3 high

If the body has started to compensate for any of these situations, it will show in the opposite system. For example, partially compensated respiratory acidosis will still have a low pH, but the HCO 3 will increase to correct the acidosis.

If fully compensated, the pH will be normal again. For partially compensated metabolic acidosis, the pH will be low, and the PaCO 2 will lower to correct the acidosis.

Maternity concepts

FHR: 120-160 BPM

Decelerations: The trick here is to remember VEAL CHOP. Yes, VEAL CHOP. Then you need to do some practice questions that involve interpreting strips.

 Variable – Cord  Early – Head  Accelerations – Ok  Late – Placental insufficiency

Pregnancy drug categories

 A: No risk, human studies have been done.  B: No risk in non-human studies.  C: Not enough research to determine risk.  D: Evidence of risk in humans. Avoid in pregnancy if at all possible.  X: Contraindicated in pregnancy.

APGAR scores

Done at 1 and 5 minutes after birth. 0 points for absent, 1 for decreased, 2 for present. Total score from 0-3 is low, 4-6 is moderately abnormal, 7-10 is reassuring

 Appearance (color: blue or pale, acrocyanotic, completely pink)  Pulses (heart rate: absent, <100 bmp, >100 bmp)  Grimace (reflex irritability: no response, grimace, cry or active withdrawal)  Activity (muscle tone: limp, some flexion, active motion)  Respiration (absent, weak cry, good cry)

Glucose testing for gestational diabetes

GCT: Glucose challenge test (remember, everyone gets CHALLENGED at 24-28 weeks gestation). Patient drinks glucola and 1 hour later has blood drawn. If < 140 mg/dL, it’s considered normal and no GTT is necessary.

If ≥ 140 mg/dL, patient has to move on to a GTT. The patient can eat and drink normally before the GCT.

GTT: Glucose tolerance test. The patient should eat and drink normally in days leading up to test but should fast for the 8 hours before the test. They will have a blood draw for a fasting glucose level.

Then, the patient will drink glucola and have blood drawn at 1 and 2 hours after finishing the drink. Two or more of the following abnormal results indicates gestational diabetes:

 Fasting: > 95 mg/dL  1 hr: > 180 mg/dL  2 hr: > 155 mg/dL  3 hr: > 140 mg/dL

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Nclex RN Cram Sheet

Course: Adult Health II (NUR 2211)

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Key Concepts for an NCLEX-RN Cram Sheet

Vital signs

 HR: 60-100 bpm

 BP: 90/60 to 120/80 mm Hg

 RR: 12 to 20 breaths per minute

 Temp: 36.5 to 37.2°C (97.8-99°F)

Lab values

Blood Gas

 pH: 7.35-7.45

 PaO2: 80-100 mm Hg

 PaCO2: 35-45 mm Hg

 HCO3: 22-26 mEq/L

 SaO2: > 95%

Lipoproteins & Triglycerides

 Total: < 200 mg/dL

 Triglycerides: < 150 mg/dL

 HDL: > 60 mg/dL

 LDL: < 70 mg/dL

 AST: < 40 u/L

 ALT: < 40 u/L

 ALP: 42-128 u/L

Hematology

 HCT female: 37-47%

 HCT male: 42-52%

 HGB female: 12-16 g/dL

 HGB male: 14-18 g/dL

 WBC: 5,000-10,000 /uL

 Platelets: 150,000-400,000 mm3

 PT: 11-12.5 seconds (1.5-2.5 times this if on

Warfarin)

 aPTT: 30-40 seconds (1.5-2 times this if on Heparin)

 INR: on Warfarin 2-3, not on Warfarin 0.8-1.1

Cardiac markers

 Troponin: < 0.01 ng/mL

 C-reactive protein: ≤ 0.8 mg/dL

 CD40 ligand: 1.51-5.35 mg/L

 Creatinine kinase: 0-3 mcg/L

Serum electrolytes

 Sodium: 135-145 mEq/L

 Potassium: 3.5-5 mEq/L

 Chloride: 98-106 mEq/L

 Calcium: 9-10.5 mEq/L

 Magnesium: 1.3-2.1 mEq/L (therapeutic range), 4-7

mEq/L if on magnesium

 Phosphorus: 3.5-4.5 mEq/L

Chemistry

 Amylase: 56-90 IU/L

 Lipase: 0-110 units/L

 Total bilirubin: 0-1 mg/dL

 Albumin: 3.5-5 g/dL

 Alfa-fetoprotein: < 10 ng/mL is normal for adults

> 500 could indicate liver tumors.

 Ammonia: 15-110 mg/dL

 BUN: 10-20 mg/dL

 Serum creatinine: 0.6-1.2 mg/dL

 Creatinine clearance: females 80-125 mL/min, males

90-139 mL/min

 GFR: 125 mL/min

 Fasting blood glucose: < 100 mg/dL

 HbA1C: < 5.7 is normal, 5.7-6.4 prediabetic, 6.5 or

higher on two separate tests means diabetes.

Thyroid function

 Total T3: 70-205 ng/dL

 T4: 4-12 mcg/dL

 TSH: 0.4-0.6 microunits/mL

Urinalysis

 Urine spec grav: 1.003-1.030

 Volume: 1-2 L/day

 pH: 4.5-8

 Glucose: < 130 mg/dL

 RBC: ≤ 3 RBCs

 WBCs: ≤ 2-5 WBCs/hpf

 Protein: ≤ 150 mg/dL

 Bacteria: none

 Ketones: none

 Nitrites: neg

Conversions

 1 tsp = 5 mL

 1 tbsp = 3 tsp

 1 oz = 30 mL

 1 cup = 8 oz

 1 pint = 2 cups

 1 quart = 2 pints

 1 kg = 2.2 lbs

Therapeutic drug levels

 Carbamazepine: 4-12 mcg/mL

 Digoxin: 0.8-2 ng/mL

 Gentamycin: 5-10 mcg/mL

 Lithium: 0.8-1.5 mEq/L

 Phenobarbital: 10-40 mcg/mL

 Phenytoin: 10-20 mcg/mL

 Theophylline: 10-20 mcg/dL

 Valproic acid: 50-125 mcg/mL, toxic if greater than

150 mcg/mL

Nclex RN Cram Sheet

Adult Health II (NUR 2211)

Hillsborough Community College

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Key Concepts for an NCLEX-RN Cram Sheet

Nclex RN Cram Sheet

Course: Adult Health II (NUR 2211)

University: Hillsborough Community College

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