PCC Exam 1, 2026 – Law & Ethics Study and Practice
Material
When the results of a lab test are within a predetermined range of values, the results are
considered what? - correct answer ✔✔ "Normal"
Always treat the what? Not the lab value. - correct answer ✔✔ Patient
Isolated abnormal lab values which do not correlate with the patient's clinical condition may be
what?
What should be done in this case? - correct answer ✔✔ Meaningless
Consider lab error, repeat test, or check previous results
When looking at Complete Blood Count, how can you determine if the patient has anemia or a
bleed? - correct answer ✔✔ Hemoglobin (Hgb) and Hematocrit (Hct)
When looking at Complete Blood Count, how can you determine if the patient has an infection?
- correct answer ✔✔ White Blood Cell count (leukocyte differential)
When looking at Complete Blood Count, how can you determine if the patient's heparin should
discontinued due to a possible adverse effect? - correct answer ✔✔ Platelet count
What are the 7 components of "Chem 7?"
(pneumonic: Some People Cry Because Beyonce Sings Good) - correct answer ✔✔ Sodium (Na)
Potassium (K)
,Chloride (Cl)
Bicarbonate (CO2)
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
Serum Creatinine (SCr)
Glucose
What is the normal range of Hemoglobin (Hgb) in males compared to females? - correct answer
✔✔ Males: 14-18 g/dL
Females: 12-16 g/dL
When does it mean if a patient's hemoglobin levels are glycosylated (HgbA1c)? - correct answer
✔✔ They have diabetes
When are hemoglobin levels low? - correct answer ✔✔ In anemia
What is the normal range of hematocrit (Hct) in males compared to females? - correct answer
✔✔ Males: 39%-49%
Females: 33%-43%
When are hematocrit levels low? - correct answer ✔✔ In anemia, bleeds, chronic diseases,
hemolysis
What does white blood cell (WBC) differential evaluate? - correct answer ✔✔ Distribution &
morphology of 5 major types of WBCs
When are WBCs increased?
, When are they decreased? - correct answer ✔✔ During infection, physiological stress,
administration or corticosteroids, leukemia
In bone marrow suppression
What is involved in blood clotting/coagulation? - correct answer ✔✔ Platelets
What can decreased platelet count (thrombocytopenia) lead to? - correct answer ✔✔
Spontaneous hemorrhage
Heparin can cause "heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)," therefore patients receiving
_______ or _______ should monitored closely. - correct answer ✔✔ Heparin or enoxaparin
What is the normal range of sodium in the body? - correct answer ✔✔ 135-145 mEq/L
A sodium overload is known as what? - correct answer ✔✔ Hypernatremia
When is hypernatremia seen? - correct answer ✔✔ In impaired thirst, inability to replace
insensible fluid losses, renal or GI losses
What is the true depletion or dilution of sodium? - correct answer ✔✔ Hyponatremia
What is the normal range of potassium in the body? - correct answer ✔✔ 3.5-5 mEq/L
It is important to monitor potassium because hyperkalemia can lead to what? - correct answer
✔✔ Cardiac arrest, hypotension, bradycardia, cardiac rhythm disturbances
Material
When the results of a lab test are within a predetermined range of values, the results are
considered what? - correct answer ✔✔ "Normal"
Always treat the what? Not the lab value. - correct answer ✔✔ Patient
Isolated abnormal lab values which do not correlate with the patient's clinical condition may be
what?
What should be done in this case? - correct answer ✔✔ Meaningless
Consider lab error, repeat test, or check previous results
When looking at Complete Blood Count, how can you determine if the patient has anemia or a
bleed? - correct answer ✔✔ Hemoglobin (Hgb) and Hematocrit (Hct)
When looking at Complete Blood Count, how can you determine if the patient has an infection?
- correct answer ✔✔ White Blood Cell count (leukocyte differential)
When looking at Complete Blood Count, how can you determine if the patient's heparin should
discontinued due to a possible adverse effect? - correct answer ✔✔ Platelet count
What are the 7 components of "Chem 7?"
(pneumonic: Some People Cry Because Beyonce Sings Good) - correct answer ✔✔ Sodium (Na)
Potassium (K)
,Chloride (Cl)
Bicarbonate (CO2)
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
Serum Creatinine (SCr)
Glucose
What is the normal range of Hemoglobin (Hgb) in males compared to females? - correct answer
✔✔ Males: 14-18 g/dL
Females: 12-16 g/dL
When does it mean if a patient's hemoglobin levels are glycosylated (HgbA1c)? - correct answer
✔✔ They have diabetes
When are hemoglobin levels low? - correct answer ✔✔ In anemia
What is the normal range of hematocrit (Hct) in males compared to females? - correct answer
✔✔ Males: 39%-49%
Females: 33%-43%
When are hematocrit levels low? - correct answer ✔✔ In anemia, bleeds, chronic diseases,
hemolysis
What does white blood cell (WBC) differential evaluate? - correct answer ✔✔ Distribution &
morphology of 5 major types of WBCs
When are WBCs increased?
, When are they decreased? - correct answer ✔✔ During infection, physiological stress,
administration or corticosteroids, leukemia
In bone marrow suppression
What is involved in blood clotting/coagulation? - correct answer ✔✔ Platelets
What can decreased platelet count (thrombocytopenia) lead to? - correct answer ✔✔
Spontaneous hemorrhage
Heparin can cause "heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)," therefore patients receiving
_______ or _______ should monitored closely. - correct answer ✔✔ Heparin or enoxaparin
What is the normal range of sodium in the body? - correct answer ✔✔ 135-145 mEq/L
A sodium overload is known as what? - correct answer ✔✔ Hypernatremia
When is hypernatremia seen? - correct answer ✔✔ In impaired thirst, inability to replace
insensible fluid losses, renal or GI losses
What is the true depletion or dilution of sodium? - correct answer ✔✔ Hyponatremia
What is the normal range of potassium in the body? - correct answer ✔✔ 3.5-5 mEq/L
It is important to monitor potassium because hyperkalemia can lead to what? - correct answer
✔✔ Cardiac arrest, hypotension, bradycardia, cardiac rhythm disturbances
