Nursing 354 Laboratory Values Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse reviews a client's complete blood count. Which hemoglobin value is
generally within the expected adult range for a female?
A. 7.5 g/dL
B. 9.0 g/dL
C. 12.5 g/dL
D. 18.5 g/dL
Answer: C. 12.5 g/dL
Rationale: A hemoglobin level around 12–16 g/dL is generally expected for adult
females. Lower values may indicate anemia, while markedly elevated values
may occur with dehydration or other conditions.
2. Which laboratory value is most directly used to evaluate the oxygen-carrying
capacity of blood?
A. Platelet count
B. Hemoglobin
C. Sodium
D. Creatinine
Answer: B. Hemoglobin
,Rationale: Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying
oxygen.
3. A client has a platelet count of 45,000/mm³. What is the nurse's priority
concern?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Infection
C. Bleeding
D. Dehydration
Answer: C. Bleeding
Rationale: A platelet count this low indicates thrombocytopenia and
significantly increases the client's risk for bleeding.
4. Which white blood cell count is generally within the expected adult range?
A. 1,000/mm³
B. 4,000–11,000/mm³
C. 18,000–25,000/mm³
D. 30,000/mm³
Answer: B. 4,000–11,000/mm³
Rationale: The typical adult WBC reference range is approximately 4,000–
11,000/mm³, although ranges can vary slightly by laboratory.
5. An elevated white blood cell count most commonly suggests which finding?
A. Infection or inflammation
B. Severe anemia
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Fluid volume deficit only
Answer: A. Infection or inflammation
Rationale: Leukocytosis can occur with infection, inflammation, stress,
medications, and several other conditions.
,6. Which laboratory value is most useful for assessing kidney filtration?
A. Creatinine
B. Hemoglobin
C. Albumin
D. Bilirubin
Answer: A. Creatinine
Rationale: Serum creatinine is commonly used to assess renal function because it
is primarily eliminated by the kidneys.
7. A client's serum creatinine is 3.2 mg/dL. How should the nurse interpret this
result?
A. It is below expected levels
B. It may indicate impaired kidney function
C. It confirms normal renal function
D. It indicates hypoglycemia
Answer: B. It may indicate impaired kidney function
Rationale: An elevated serum creatinine can indicate decreased kidney filtration
and should be interpreted with the client's baseline and estimated glomerular
filtration rate.
8. Which electrolyte is most important for normal cardiac conduction and
muscle contraction?
A. Potassium
B. Chloride
C. Phosphate
D. Bicarbonate
Answer: A. Potassium
Rationale: Potassium is essential for cardiac electrical activity and skeletal and
smooth muscle function. Abnormal potassium levels can cause potentially
serious dysrhythmias.
, 9. Which potassium value is generally within the expected adult range?
A. 1.8 mEq/L
B. 2.5 mEq/L
C. 4.0 mEq/L
D. 7.2 mEq/L
Answer: C. 4.0 mEq/L
Rationale: A typical adult potassium reference range is approximately 3.5–5.0
mEq/L, although laboratory ranges may vary.
10. A client has a potassium level of 6.4 mEq/L. Which complication is the
priority?
A. Cardiac dysrhythmia
B. Constipation
C. Increased appetite
D. Hypertension only
Answer: A. Cardiac dysrhythmia
Rationale: Severe hyperkalemia can alter cardiac conduction and cause life-
threatening dysrhythmias.
11. Which sodium level is generally within the expected adult range?
A. 110 mEq/L
B. 125 mEq/L
C. 140 mEq/L
D. 165 mEq/L
Answer: C. 140 mEq/L
Rationale: Normal adult serum sodium is generally about 135–145 mEq/L.
12. A sodium level of 122 mEq/L places a client at increased risk for which
complication?
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse reviews a client's complete blood count. Which hemoglobin value is
generally within the expected adult range for a female?
A. 7.5 g/dL
B. 9.0 g/dL
C. 12.5 g/dL
D. 18.5 g/dL
Answer: C. 12.5 g/dL
Rationale: A hemoglobin level around 12–16 g/dL is generally expected for adult
females. Lower values may indicate anemia, while markedly elevated values
may occur with dehydration or other conditions.
2. Which laboratory value is most directly used to evaluate the oxygen-carrying
capacity of blood?
A. Platelet count
B. Hemoglobin
C. Sodium
D. Creatinine
Answer: B. Hemoglobin
,Rationale: Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying
oxygen.
3. A client has a platelet count of 45,000/mm³. What is the nurse's priority
concern?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Infection
C. Bleeding
D. Dehydration
Answer: C. Bleeding
Rationale: A platelet count this low indicates thrombocytopenia and
significantly increases the client's risk for bleeding.
4. Which white blood cell count is generally within the expected adult range?
A. 1,000/mm³
B. 4,000–11,000/mm³
C. 18,000–25,000/mm³
D. 30,000/mm³
Answer: B. 4,000–11,000/mm³
Rationale: The typical adult WBC reference range is approximately 4,000–
11,000/mm³, although ranges can vary slightly by laboratory.
5. An elevated white blood cell count most commonly suggests which finding?
A. Infection or inflammation
B. Severe anemia
C. Hypoglycemia
D. Fluid volume deficit only
Answer: A. Infection or inflammation
Rationale: Leukocytosis can occur with infection, inflammation, stress,
medications, and several other conditions.
,6. Which laboratory value is most useful for assessing kidney filtration?
A. Creatinine
B. Hemoglobin
C. Albumin
D. Bilirubin
Answer: A. Creatinine
Rationale: Serum creatinine is commonly used to assess renal function because it
is primarily eliminated by the kidneys.
7. A client's serum creatinine is 3.2 mg/dL. How should the nurse interpret this
result?
A. It is below expected levels
B. It may indicate impaired kidney function
C. It confirms normal renal function
D. It indicates hypoglycemia
Answer: B. It may indicate impaired kidney function
Rationale: An elevated serum creatinine can indicate decreased kidney filtration
and should be interpreted with the client's baseline and estimated glomerular
filtration rate.
8. Which electrolyte is most important for normal cardiac conduction and
muscle contraction?
A. Potassium
B. Chloride
C. Phosphate
D. Bicarbonate
Answer: A. Potassium
Rationale: Potassium is essential for cardiac electrical activity and skeletal and
smooth muscle function. Abnormal potassium levels can cause potentially
serious dysrhythmias.
, 9. Which potassium value is generally within the expected adult range?
A. 1.8 mEq/L
B. 2.5 mEq/L
C. 4.0 mEq/L
D. 7.2 mEq/L
Answer: C. 4.0 mEq/L
Rationale: A typical adult potassium reference range is approximately 3.5–5.0
mEq/L, although laboratory ranges may vary.
10. A client has a potassium level of 6.4 mEq/L. Which complication is the
priority?
A. Cardiac dysrhythmia
B. Constipation
C. Increased appetite
D. Hypertension only
Answer: A. Cardiac dysrhythmia
Rationale: Severe hyperkalemia can alter cardiac conduction and cause life-
threatening dysrhythmias.
11. Which sodium level is generally within the expected adult range?
A. 110 mEq/L
B. 125 mEq/L
C. 140 mEq/L
D. 165 mEq/L
Answer: C. 140 mEq/L
Rationale: Normal adult serum sodium is generally about 135–145 mEq/L.
12. A sodium level of 122 mEq/L places a client at increased risk for which
complication?
