NCLEX-RN Exam Review Q&A
2026 Update!!!
What are the normal ranges for PT? What is PT used to
help regulate? What is the therapeutic range?
Correct answer: 11-12.5 is a normal PT range
PT is used to help regulate Coumadin dosages. The
therapeutic range: 1.5 to 2 times normal or control
When introducing foods to infants what should you teach
the new parents?
Correct answer: Introduce one food at a time to help
identify allergies.
Progression of food should be "AS TOLERATED"
The nursing assessment guides decisions about
progression.
If a question is related to the nursing process, read the
question to determine the step of the nursing process.
What are the steps in the nursing process and what kind
of question might be related to that step.
Correct answer: Assessment question address the
gathering and verification 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.
Planning questions ask about determining, prioritizing, and
modifying outcomes of care.
1
,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
outcomes of care with the expected outcomes and on
communicating and documenting findings.
What are the normal ranges for H&H? What are the
nursing implications
Correct answer: Hemoglobin - Male 14-18 Female 12-16
Newborn 14-24
High altitude living increases value, slight decrease during
pregnancy. Drug therapy can alter values.
Hematocrit - Male 42-52 Female 37-47 Newborn 44-64
Prolonged stasis from vasoconstriction secondary to the
tourniquet can alter values. Abnormalities in RBC size
may alter Hct values
What are the normal ranges for WBC?
What can increase values?
What can decrease values?
How long does the postpartum period of pregnancy affect
normal ranges? What range is normal during the
postpartum period?
Correct answer: Both genders 5000-10000 Newborn
9000-30000
Anesthetics, stress, exercise, and convulsions can
increased values.
Drug therapy can decrease values.
24-28 hr postpartum: a count as high as 25000 is normal
What are the normal ranges for RBC?
What can increase levels
What happens to levels during pregnancy?
2
, Correct answer: Males: 4.7-6.1 million
Female: 4.2-5.4 million
Exercise and high altitudes can cause an increase levels
pregnancy usually lower values
drug therapy can alter values
Never draw a specimen from an arm with an infusing IV.
What are the normal ranges for PLATELETS?
What may increase values?
What may decrease values?
What drugs decrease values?
Correct answer: Both Genders: 150000-400000
Living at high altitudes, exercising strenuously or taking
oral contraceptives may increase values
decreased values may be caused by hemorrhage, DIC,
reduced production of platelets, infections, use of
prosthetic heart valves, and drugs.
Drugs that decrease platelets: acetaminophen, aspirin,
chemotherapy, H2 blockers, INH, Levaquin, streptomycin,
sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics.
What are the normal ranges for K+? What should you
keep in mind when getting a specimen?
Correct answer: 3.5-5 is normal range for potassium
Exercise of the forearm with tourniquet in place may
cause an increased level. Hemolysis of specimen can
result in a falsely elevated value
What are the normal ranges for Na+? What should you
consider when collecting a specimen?
Correct answer: 136-145 is a normal sodium range
Do Not collect from an arm with an infusing IV solution
What are the normal ranges for Ca+?
3
2026 Update!!!
What are the normal ranges for PT? What is PT used to
help regulate? What is the therapeutic range?
Correct answer: 11-12.5 is a normal PT range
PT is used to help regulate Coumadin dosages. The
therapeutic range: 1.5 to 2 times normal or control
When introducing foods to infants what should you teach
the new parents?
Correct answer: Introduce one food at a time to help
identify allergies.
Progression of food should be "AS TOLERATED"
The nursing assessment guides decisions about
progression.
If a question is related to the nursing process, read the
question to determine the step of the nursing process.
What are the steps in the nursing process and what kind
of question might be related to that step.
Correct answer: Assessment question address the
gathering and verification 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.
Planning questions ask about determining, prioritizing, and
modifying outcomes of care.
1
,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
outcomes of care with the expected outcomes and on
communicating and documenting findings.
What are the normal ranges for H&H? What are the
nursing implications
Correct answer: Hemoglobin - Male 14-18 Female 12-16
Newborn 14-24
High altitude living increases value, slight decrease during
pregnancy. Drug therapy can alter values.
Hematocrit - Male 42-52 Female 37-47 Newborn 44-64
Prolonged stasis from vasoconstriction secondary to the
tourniquet can alter values. Abnormalities in RBC size
may alter Hct values
What are the normal ranges for WBC?
What can increase values?
What can decrease values?
How long does the postpartum period of pregnancy affect
normal ranges? What range is normal during the
postpartum period?
Correct answer: Both genders 5000-10000 Newborn
9000-30000
Anesthetics, stress, exercise, and convulsions can
increased values.
Drug therapy can decrease values.
24-28 hr postpartum: a count as high as 25000 is normal
What are the normal ranges for RBC?
What can increase levels
What happens to levels during pregnancy?
2
, Correct answer: Males: 4.7-6.1 million
Female: 4.2-5.4 million
Exercise and high altitudes can cause an increase levels
pregnancy usually lower values
drug therapy can alter values
Never draw a specimen from an arm with an infusing IV.
What are the normal ranges for PLATELETS?
What may increase values?
What may decrease values?
What drugs decrease values?
Correct answer: Both Genders: 150000-400000
Living at high altitudes, exercising strenuously or taking
oral contraceptives may increase values
decreased values may be caused by hemorrhage, DIC,
reduced production of platelets, infections, use of
prosthetic heart valves, and drugs.
Drugs that decrease platelets: acetaminophen, aspirin,
chemotherapy, H2 blockers, INH, Levaquin, streptomycin,
sulfonamides, thiazide diuretics.
What are the normal ranges for K+? What should you
keep in mind when getting a specimen?
Correct answer: 3.5-5 is normal range for potassium
Exercise of the forearm with tourniquet in place may
cause an increased level. Hemolysis of specimen can
result in a falsely elevated value
What are the normal ranges for Na+? What should you
consider when collecting a specimen?
Correct answer: 136-145 is a normal sodium range
Do Not collect from an arm with an infusing IV solution
What are the normal ranges for Ca+?
3
