NCLEX-RN 2026 EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
11-12.5 is a normal PT range
What are the normal ranges for PT? What is PT used to
PT is used to help regulate Coumadin dosages. The ther-
help regulate? What is the therapeutic range?
apeutic range: 1.5 to 2 times normal or control
Introduce one food at a time to help identify allergies.
When introducing foods to infants what should you teach Progression of food should be "AS TOLERATED"
the new parents? The nursing assessment guides decisions about progres-
sion.
Assessment question address the gathering and verifica-
tion of data.
Analysis questions require the nurse to: interpret data,
collect additional information, identify and communicate
nursing diagnoses and determine the health team's ability
to meet the pts needs.
If a question is related to the nursing process, read the
question to determine the step of the nursing process. Planning questions ask about determining, prioritizing,
What are the steps in the nursing process and what kind and modifying outcomes of care.
of question might be related to that step.
Implementation questions reflect the management and
organization of care and the assignment and delegation
of tasks. Be prepared for questions on client teaching.
Evaluation questions focus on comparing the actual out-
comes of care with the expected outcomes and on com-
municating and documenting findings.
Hemoglobin - Male 14-18 Female 12-16 Newborn 14-24
High altitude living increases value, slight decrease during
What are the normal ranges for H&H? What are the nurs-
pregnancy. Drug therapy can alter values.
ing implications
Hematocrit - Male 42-52 Female 37-47 Newborn 44-64
,NCLEX-RN 2026 EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
Prolonged stasis from vasoconstriction secondary to the
tourniquet can alter values. Abnormalities in RBC size may
alter Hct values
Both genders 5000-10000 Newborn 9000-30000
What are the normal ranges for WBC?
What can increase values? Anesthetics, stress, exercise, and convulsions can in-
What can decrease values? creased values.
How long does the postpartum period of pregnancy attect
normal ranges? What range is normal during the postpar- Drug therapy can decrease values.
tum period?
24-28 hr postpartum: a count as high as 25000 is normal
Males: 4.7-6.1 million
Female: 4.2-5.4 million
What are the normal ranges for RBC?
Exercise and high altitudes can cause an increase levels
What can increase levels
pregnancy usually lower values
What happens to levels during pregnancy?
drug therapy can alter values
Never draw a specimen from an arm with an infusing IV.
Both Genders: 150000-400000
Living at high altitudes, exercising strenuously or taking
oral contraceptives may increase values
What are the normal ranges for PLATELETS?
What may increase values? decreased values may be caused by hemorrhage, DIC, re-
What may decrease values? duced production of platelets, infections, use of prosthetic
What drugs decrease values? heart valves, and drugs.
Drugs that decrease platelets: acetaminophen, aspirin,
chemotherapy, H2 blockers, INH, Levaquin, streptomycin,
sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics.
3.5-5 is normal range for potassium
Exercise of the forearm with tourniquet in place may cause
, What are the normal ranges for K+? What should you keep an increased level. Hemolysis of specimen can result in a
in mind when getting a specimen? falsely elevated value
What are the normal ranges for Na+? What should you 136-145 is a normal sodium range
consider when collecting a specimen? Do Not collect from an arm with an infusing IV solution
9-10.5 for adults. slightly lower in the elder
Use of thiazide diuretics can cause increased levels of
calcium
What are the normal ranges for Ca+?
Positive Chvostek and Trousseau tests are associated with
What type of drug can increase calcium levels?
hypocalcemia.
What are two tests with positive results that are associated
with hypocalcemia?
• Chvostek sign: contraction of ipsilateral facial muscles
How do you preform the two tests?
when the facial nerve is tapped just in front of the ear.
• Trousseau sign: carpopedal spasm elicited by inflating a
sphygmomanometer above systolic BP for 3 minutes.
1.7-2.2
A high magnesium level may indicate: Addison disease
Chronic renal failure, Dehydration, Diabetic acidosis
What are the normal ranges for Mg+? Oliguria
What may high magnesium levels indicate?
What may low magnesium levels indicate? A low magnesium level may indicate: Alcoholism
Chronic diarrhea, Delirium tremens, Hemodialysis
Hepatic (liver) cirrhosis, Hyperaldosteronism
Hypoparathyroidism, Pancreatitis, Too much insulin
Toxemia of pregnancy, Ulcerative colitis
What are the normal ranges for Cl- 98-106 is the normal range for chloride
What are the normal ranges for ALP (alkaline phos- 30-120
phatase)? slightly increased in the elderly
When selecting an NCLEX answer or determining the or-
der of priority what should you remember or use and what
is the exception?
11-12.5 is a normal PT range
What are the normal ranges for PT? What is PT used to
PT is used to help regulate Coumadin dosages. The ther-
help regulate? What is the therapeutic range?
apeutic range: 1.5 to 2 times normal or control
Introduce one food at a time to help identify allergies.
When introducing foods to infants what should you teach Progression of food should be "AS TOLERATED"
the new parents? The nursing assessment guides decisions about progres-
sion.
Assessment question address the gathering and verifica-
tion of data.
Analysis questions require the nurse to: interpret data,
collect additional information, identify and communicate
nursing diagnoses and determine the health team's ability
to meet the pts needs.
If a question is related to the nursing process, read the
question to determine the step of the nursing process. Planning questions ask about determining, prioritizing,
What are the steps in the nursing process and what kind and modifying outcomes of care.
of question might be related to that step.
Implementation questions reflect the management and
organization of care and the assignment and delegation
of tasks. Be prepared for questions on client teaching.
Evaluation questions focus on comparing the actual out-
comes of care with the expected outcomes and on com-
municating and documenting findings.
Hemoglobin - Male 14-18 Female 12-16 Newborn 14-24
High altitude living increases value, slight decrease during
What are the normal ranges for H&H? What are the nurs-
pregnancy. Drug therapy can alter values.
ing implications
Hematocrit - Male 42-52 Female 37-47 Newborn 44-64
,NCLEX-RN 2026 EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
Prolonged stasis from vasoconstriction secondary to the
tourniquet can alter values. Abnormalities in RBC size may
alter Hct values
Both genders 5000-10000 Newborn 9000-30000
What are the normal ranges for WBC?
What can increase values? Anesthetics, stress, exercise, and convulsions can in-
What can decrease values? creased values.
How long does the postpartum period of pregnancy attect
normal ranges? What range is normal during the postpar- Drug therapy can decrease values.
tum period?
24-28 hr postpartum: a count as high as 25000 is normal
Males: 4.7-6.1 million
Female: 4.2-5.4 million
What are the normal ranges for RBC?
Exercise and high altitudes can cause an increase levels
What can increase levels
pregnancy usually lower values
What happens to levels during pregnancy?
drug therapy can alter values
Never draw a specimen from an arm with an infusing IV.
Both Genders: 150000-400000
Living at high altitudes, exercising strenuously or taking
oral contraceptives may increase values
What are the normal ranges for PLATELETS?
What may increase values? decreased values may be caused by hemorrhage, DIC, re-
What may decrease values? duced production of platelets, infections, use of prosthetic
What drugs decrease values? heart valves, and drugs.
Drugs that decrease platelets: acetaminophen, aspirin,
chemotherapy, H2 blockers, INH, Levaquin, streptomycin,
sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics.
3.5-5 is normal range for potassium
Exercise of the forearm with tourniquet in place may cause
, What are the normal ranges for K+? What should you keep an increased level. Hemolysis of specimen can result in a
in mind when getting a specimen? falsely elevated value
What are the normal ranges for Na+? What should you 136-145 is a normal sodium range
consider when collecting a specimen? Do Not collect from an arm with an infusing IV solution
9-10.5 for adults. slightly lower in the elder
Use of thiazide diuretics can cause increased levels of
calcium
What are the normal ranges for Ca+?
Positive Chvostek and Trousseau tests are associated with
What type of drug can increase calcium levels?
hypocalcemia.
What are two tests with positive results that are associated
with hypocalcemia?
• Chvostek sign: contraction of ipsilateral facial muscles
How do you preform the two tests?
when the facial nerve is tapped just in front of the ear.
• Trousseau sign: carpopedal spasm elicited by inflating a
sphygmomanometer above systolic BP for 3 minutes.
1.7-2.2
A high magnesium level may indicate: Addison disease
Chronic renal failure, Dehydration, Diabetic acidosis
What are the normal ranges for Mg+? Oliguria
What may high magnesium levels indicate?
What may low magnesium levels indicate? A low magnesium level may indicate: Alcoholism
Chronic diarrhea, Delirium tremens, Hemodialysis
Hepatic (liver) cirrhosis, Hyperaldosteronism
Hypoparathyroidism, Pancreatitis, Too much insulin
Toxemia of pregnancy, Ulcerative colitis
What are the normal ranges for Cl- 98-106 is the normal range for chloride
What are the normal ranges for ALP (alkaline phos- 30-120
phatase)? slightly increased in the elderly
When selecting an NCLEX answer or determining the or-
der of priority what should you remember or use and what
is the exception?
