HESI Hints & NCLEX Gems study guides and
cheet sheets for 2026
o Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• Physiologic
• Safety
• Love and Belonging
• Esteem
• Self-actualization
o Nursing Process
• Assessment
• Diagnosis (Analysis)
• Planning
• Implementation (treatment)
• Evaluation
o ABCs
• Airway
• Breathing
• Circulation
• Normal
Values o
Hgb
• Males 14-18
pg. 1
, • Females 12-16
o Hct
• Males 42-52
• Females 37-47
o RBCs
• Males 4.7-6.1 million
• Females 4.2-5.4 million
o WBCs 4.5-11k
o Platelets 150-400k
o PT(Coumadin/Warfarin) 11-12.5 sec (INR and PT TR = 1.5-2 times
normal)
o APTT (Heparin) 60-70 sec (APTT and PTT TR = 1.5-2.5 times normal)
o BUN 10-20
o Creatinine 0.5-1.2
o Glucose 70-110
o Cholesterol < 200
o Bilirubin Newborn 1-12
o Phenylalanine Newborn < 2, Adult < 6
o Na+ 136-145
o K+ 3.5-5
• HypoK+ Prominent U waves, Depressed ST segment, Flat T
waves
• HyperK+ Tall T-Waves, Prolonged PR interval, wide QRS
o Ca++9-10.5
• Hypocalcemia … muscle spasms, convulsions,
cramps/tetany, + Trousseau’s, + Chvostek’s, prolonged ST
interval, prolonged QT segment
o Mg+ 1.5-2.5
pg. 2
, o Cl- 96-106
o Phos 3-4.5
o Albumin 3.5-5
o Spec Gravity 1.005-1.030
o Glycosylated Hemoglobin (Hgb A1c): 4-6% ideal, < 7.5% = OK (120
days)
o Dilantin TR = 10-20
o Lithium TR = 0.5-1.5
o Arterial Blood Gases … Used for Acidosis vs. Alkalosis
• PH 7.35-7.45
• CO2 35-45 (Respiratory driver) … High
= Acidosis
• HCO 21-28 (Metabolic driver) … High =
3 Alkalosis
• O2 80-100
• O2 95-100%
Sat
• Antidotes
o Digoxin … Digiband
o Coumadin … Vitamin K (Keep PT and INR @ 1-1.5 X normal)
o Benzodiazapines … Flumzaemil (Tomazicon)
o Magnesium Sulfate … Calcium Gluconate?
o Heparin … Protamine Sulfate (Keep APTT and PTT @ 1.5-2.5 X normal)
o Tylenol … Mucomist (17 doses + loading dose)
o Opiates (narcotic analgesics, heroin, morphine) … Narcan (Naloxone)
o Cholinergic Meds (Myesthenic Bradycardia) … Atropine
o Methotrexate … Leucovorin
pg. 3
, • Delegation
o RN Only
• Blood Products (2 RNs must check)
• Clotting Factors
• Sterile dressing changes and procedures
• Assessments that require clinical judgment
• Ultimately responsible for all delegated duties
o Unlicensed Assistive Personnel
• Non-sterile procedures
• Precautions & Room Assignments
o Universal (Standard) Precautions … HIV initiated
• Wash hands
• Wear Gloves
• Gowns for splashes
• Masks and Eye Protection for splashes and droplets
• Don’t recap needles
• Mouthpiece or Ambu-bag for resuscitation
• Refrain from giving care if you have skin lesion
o Droplet (Respiratory) Precautions (Wear Mask)
• Sepsis, Scarlet Fever, Strep, Fifth Disease (Parvo B19), Pertussis,
Pneumonia, Influenza, Diptheria, Epiglottitis, Rubella, Rubeola,
Meningitis, Mycoplasma, Adenovirus, Rhinovirus
• RSV (needs contact precautions too)
• TB … Respiratory Isolation
o Contact Precautions = Universal + Goggles, Mask and Gown
o No infection patients with immunosuppressed patients
pg. 4
cheet sheets for 2026
o Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• Physiologic
• Safety
• Love and Belonging
• Esteem
• Self-actualization
o Nursing Process
• Assessment
• Diagnosis (Analysis)
• Planning
• Implementation (treatment)
• Evaluation
o ABCs
• Airway
• Breathing
• Circulation
• Normal
Values o
Hgb
• Males 14-18
pg. 1
, • Females 12-16
o Hct
• Males 42-52
• Females 37-47
o RBCs
• Males 4.7-6.1 million
• Females 4.2-5.4 million
o WBCs 4.5-11k
o Platelets 150-400k
o PT(Coumadin/Warfarin) 11-12.5 sec (INR and PT TR = 1.5-2 times
normal)
o APTT (Heparin) 60-70 sec (APTT and PTT TR = 1.5-2.5 times normal)
o BUN 10-20
o Creatinine 0.5-1.2
o Glucose 70-110
o Cholesterol < 200
o Bilirubin Newborn 1-12
o Phenylalanine Newborn < 2, Adult < 6
o Na+ 136-145
o K+ 3.5-5
• HypoK+ Prominent U waves, Depressed ST segment, Flat T
waves
• HyperK+ Tall T-Waves, Prolonged PR interval, wide QRS
o Ca++9-10.5
• Hypocalcemia … muscle spasms, convulsions,
cramps/tetany, + Trousseau’s, + Chvostek’s, prolonged ST
interval, prolonged QT segment
o Mg+ 1.5-2.5
pg. 2
, o Cl- 96-106
o Phos 3-4.5
o Albumin 3.5-5
o Spec Gravity 1.005-1.030
o Glycosylated Hemoglobin (Hgb A1c): 4-6% ideal, < 7.5% = OK (120
days)
o Dilantin TR = 10-20
o Lithium TR = 0.5-1.5
o Arterial Blood Gases … Used for Acidosis vs. Alkalosis
• PH 7.35-7.45
• CO2 35-45 (Respiratory driver) … High
= Acidosis
• HCO 21-28 (Metabolic driver) … High =
3 Alkalosis
• O2 80-100
• O2 95-100%
Sat
• Antidotes
o Digoxin … Digiband
o Coumadin … Vitamin K (Keep PT and INR @ 1-1.5 X normal)
o Benzodiazapines … Flumzaemil (Tomazicon)
o Magnesium Sulfate … Calcium Gluconate?
o Heparin … Protamine Sulfate (Keep APTT and PTT @ 1.5-2.5 X normal)
o Tylenol … Mucomist (17 doses + loading dose)
o Opiates (narcotic analgesics, heroin, morphine) … Narcan (Naloxone)
o Cholinergic Meds (Myesthenic Bradycardia) … Atropine
o Methotrexate … Leucovorin
pg. 3
, • Delegation
o RN Only
• Blood Products (2 RNs must check)
• Clotting Factors
• Sterile dressing changes and procedures
• Assessments that require clinical judgment
• Ultimately responsible for all delegated duties
o Unlicensed Assistive Personnel
• Non-sterile procedures
• Precautions & Room Assignments
o Universal (Standard) Precautions … HIV initiated
• Wash hands
• Wear Gloves
• Gowns for splashes
• Masks and Eye Protection for splashes and droplets
• Don’t recap needles
• Mouthpiece or Ambu-bag for resuscitation
• Refrain from giving care if you have skin lesion
o Droplet (Respiratory) Precautions (Wear Mask)
• Sepsis, Scarlet Fever, Strep, Fifth Disease (Parvo B19), Pertussis,
Pneumonia, Influenza, Diptheria, Epiglottitis, Rubella, Rubeola,
Meningitis, Mycoplasma, Adenovirus, Rhinovirus
• RSV (needs contact precautions too)
• TB … Respiratory Isolation
o Contact Precautions = Universal + Goggles, Mask and Gown
o No infection patients with immunosuppressed patients
pg. 4
