BARBIE NURSE • LAB VALUES PRACTICE
LAB VALUES PRACTICE QUESTIONS
FOR BSN NURSING STUDENTS
200 Questions with Answers and Rationales • Sections 1–20
Study Edition
A clean, colour-coded revision PDF. Questions are kept in the source order, with answers and rationales visually separated for
quick review.
Page 1
,BARBIE NURSE • LAB VALUES PRACTICE
SECTION 1:
ELECTROLYTES (Questions 1–15)
Q1. A patient's potassium level is 6.8 mEq/L. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Administer oral potassium
B) Place patient on cardiac monitor and notify provider
C) Encourage potassium-rich foods
D) Document and reassess in 4 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium >6.5 mEq/L is a critical value that can cause lethal cardiac arrhythmias. The priority is cardiac monitoring
and immediate provider notification.
Q2. Normal potassium range is:
A) 135–145 mEq/L
B) 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
C) 8.5–10.5 mg/dL
D) 1.3–2.1 mEq/L
Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium normal range is 3.5–5.0 mEq/L. 135–145 is sodium, 8.5–10.5 is calcium, and 1.3–2.1 is magnesium.
Q3. A patient has a sodium level of 118 mEq/L. Which finding is most concerning?
A) Dry mucous membranes
B) Thirst
C) Seizures
D) Hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: Sodium <120 mEq/L is critical and can cause cerebral edema leading to seizures, coma, and death.
Q4. A patient with hypocalcemia would most likely exhibit:
A) Decreased deep tendon reflexes
B) Trousseau's sign
C) Bradycardia
D) Constipation
Answer: B
Rationale: Trousseau's sign is a classic sign of hypocalcemia due to increased neuromuscular excitability.
Q5. A patient's magnesium level is 4.5 mEq/L. What should the nurse assess first?
A) Bowel sounds
B) Deep tendon reflexes and respiratory status
C) Skin turgor
D) Urine output
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypermagnesemia causes decreased DTRs, respiratory depression, and bradycardia.
Q6. Which electrolyte imbalance causes peaked T waves on ECG?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Hyperkalemia
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Hypernatremia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperkalemia causes tall, peaked T waves, widened QRS, and prolonged PR interval.
Q7. A patient receiving furosemide (Lasix) should be monitored for which electrolyte imbalance?
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypercalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics like furosemide cause potassium loss (hypokalemia).
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, BARBIE NURSE • LAB VALUES PRACTICE
Q8. Chvostek's sign is associated with:
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypocalcemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypomagnesemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Chvostek's sign indicates hypocalcemia and reflects increased neuromuscular irritability.
Q9. A patient's calcium level is 13.5 mg/dL. Which symptom would the nurse expect?
A) Muscle twitching
B) Tetany
C) Lethargy and confusion
D) Seizures
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypercalcemia causes lethargy, weakness, confusion, constipation, and kidney stones.
Q10. Which food should be encouraged for a patient with hypokalemia?
A) White bread
B) Bananas and oranges
C) Pasta
D) Apple juice
Answer: B
Rationale: Bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach, and tomatoes are high in potassium.
Q11. A patient with SIADH would most likely have:
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hyponatremia
C) Hyperkalemia
D) Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: SIADH causes excessive water retention, leading to dilutional hyponatremia.
Q12. Normal magnesium range is:
A) 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
B) 8.5–10.5 mg/dL
C) 1.3–2.1 mEq/L
D) 135–145 mEq/L
Answer: C
Rationale: Magnesium normal range is 1.3–2.1 mEq/L.
Q13. A patient with hypomagnesemia is at risk for:
A) Decreased DTRs
B) Respiratory depression
C) Arrhythmias and seizures
D) Bradycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypomagnesemia causes increased neuromuscular excitability leading to arrhythmias and seizures.
Q14. Which IV solution should NEVER be given by IV push?
A) 0.9% Normal Saline
B) Lactated Ringer's
C) Potassium chloride
D) D5W
Answer: C
Rationale: IV push potassium can cause cardiac arrest. It must always be diluted and infused via pump.
Page 3
LAB VALUES PRACTICE QUESTIONS
FOR BSN NURSING STUDENTS
200 Questions with Answers and Rationales • Sections 1–20
Study Edition
A clean, colour-coded revision PDF. Questions are kept in the source order, with answers and rationales visually separated for
quick review.
Page 1
,BARBIE NURSE • LAB VALUES PRACTICE
SECTION 1:
ELECTROLYTES (Questions 1–15)
Q1. A patient's potassium level is 6.8 mEq/L. What is the priority nursing action?
A) Administer oral potassium
B) Place patient on cardiac monitor and notify provider
C) Encourage potassium-rich foods
D) Document and reassess in 4 hours
Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium >6.5 mEq/L is a critical value that can cause lethal cardiac arrhythmias. The priority is cardiac monitoring
and immediate provider notification.
Q2. Normal potassium range is:
A) 135–145 mEq/L
B) 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
C) 8.5–10.5 mg/dL
D) 1.3–2.1 mEq/L
Answer: B
Rationale: Potassium normal range is 3.5–5.0 mEq/L. 135–145 is sodium, 8.5–10.5 is calcium, and 1.3–2.1 is magnesium.
Q3. A patient has a sodium level of 118 mEq/L. Which finding is most concerning?
A) Dry mucous membranes
B) Thirst
C) Seizures
D) Hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: Sodium <120 mEq/L is critical and can cause cerebral edema leading to seizures, coma, and death.
Q4. A patient with hypocalcemia would most likely exhibit:
A) Decreased deep tendon reflexes
B) Trousseau's sign
C) Bradycardia
D) Constipation
Answer: B
Rationale: Trousseau's sign is a classic sign of hypocalcemia due to increased neuromuscular excitability.
Q5. A patient's magnesium level is 4.5 mEq/L. What should the nurse assess first?
A) Bowel sounds
B) Deep tendon reflexes and respiratory status
C) Skin turgor
D) Urine output
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypermagnesemia causes decreased DTRs, respiratory depression, and bradycardia.
Q6. Which electrolyte imbalance causes peaked T waves on ECG?
A) Hypokalemia
B) Hyperkalemia
C) Hypocalcemia
D) Hypernatremia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperkalemia causes tall, peaked T waves, widened QRS, and prolonged PR interval.
Q7. A patient receiving furosemide (Lasix) should be monitored for which electrolyte imbalance?
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypokalemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypercalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Loop diuretics like furosemide cause potassium loss (hypokalemia).
Page 2
, BARBIE NURSE • LAB VALUES PRACTICE
Q8. Chvostek's sign is associated with:
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hypocalcemia
C) Hypernatremia
D) Hypomagnesemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Chvostek's sign indicates hypocalcemia and reflects increased neuromuscular irritability.
Q9. A patient's calcium level is 13.5 mg/dL. Which symptom would the nurse expect?
A) Muscle twitching
B) Tetany
C) Lethargy and confusion
D) Seizures
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypercalcemia causes lethargy, weakness, confusion, constipation, and kidney stones.
Q10. Which food should be encouraged for a patient with hypokalemia?
A) White bread
B) Bananas and oranges
C) Pasta
D) Apple juice
Answer: B
Rationale: Bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach, and tomatoes are high in potassium.
Q11. A patient with SIADH would most likely have:
A) Hypernatremia
B) Hyponatremia
C) Hyperkalemia
D) Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: SIADH causes excessive water retention, leading to dilutional hyponatremia.
Q12. Normal magnesium range is:
A) 3.5–5.0 mEq/L
B) 8.5–10.5 mg/dL
C) 1.3–2.1 mEq/L
D) 135–145 mEq/L
Answer: C
Rationale: Magnesium normal range is 1.3–2.1 mEq/L.
Q13. A patient with hypomagnesemia is at risk for:
A) Decreased DTRs
B) Respiratory depression
C) Arrhythmias and seizures
D) Bradycardia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hypomagnesemia causes increased neuromuscular excitability leading to arrhythmias and seizures.
Q14. Which IV solution should NEVER be given by IV push?
A) 0.9% Normal Saline
B) Lactated Ringer's
C) Potassium chloride
D) D5W
Answer: C
Rationale: IV push potassium can cause cardiac arrest. It must always be diluted and infused via pump.
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