NCLEX-RN Exam Cram Sheet Quick Review Notes & Test Tips.

Nursing Exam Cram Sheet for the NCLEX-RN
The final mountain that nursing students must summit before becoming a registered nurse is the NCLEX. Preparing for the NCLEX can be stressful as
taking in colossal amounts of information has never been easy. This is where this cram sheet can help-- it contains condensed facts about the licensure
exam and key nursing information. When exam time comes, you can write and transfer these vital information from your head to a blank sheet of paper
provided by the testing center.

1. Test Information  Rephrase the question—putting the 5. ABG Values
 Six hours—the maximum time allotted question into your own words can pluck  pH: 7.36—7.45
for the NCLEX is 6 hours. Take breaks if the unneeded info and reveal the core of  HCO3: 24—26 mEq/L
you need a time out or need to move the stem.  CO2: 35—45 mEq/L
around.  Make an educated guess—if you can’t  PaO2: 80%—100%
 75/265—the minimum number of make the best answer for a question  SaO2: >95%
questions you can answer is 75 and a after carefully reading it, choose the 6. Acid-Base Balance
maximum of 265. answer with the most information.  Remember ROME (respiratory
 Read the question and answers 2. Vital Signs opposite/metabolic equal) to remember
carefully—do not jump into conclusions  Heart rate: 80—100 bpm that in respiratory acid/base disorders
or make wild guesses.  Respiratory rate: 12-20 rpm the pH is opposite to the other
 Look for keywords—Avoid answers with  Blood pressure: 110-120/60 mmHg components.
absolutes like always, never, all, every,  Temperature: 37 °C (98.6 °F)  Use the Tic-Tac-Toe Method for
only, must, except, none, or no. 3. Hematology values interpreting ABGs. Read more about it
 Don’t read into the question—Never  RBCs: 4.5—5.0 million here (http://bit.ly/abgtictactoe).
assume anything that has not been  WBCs: 5,000—10,000 7. Chemistry Values
specifically mentioned and don’t add  Platelets: 200,000—400,000  Glucose: 70—110 mg/dL
extra meaning to the question.  Hemoglobin (Hgb): 12—16 gm (female);  Specific Gravity: 1.010—1.030
 Eliminate answers that are clearly wrong 14—18 gm (male).  BUN: 7-22 mg/dL
or incorrect—to increase your probability  Hematocrit (Hct): 37—47 (female); 40—  Serum creatinine: 0.6—1.35 mg/dL
of selecting the correct answer! 54 (male)  LDH: 100-190 U/L
 Watch for grammatical 4. Serum electrolytes  Protein: 6.2—8.1 g/dL
inconsistencies—Subjects and verbs  Sodium: 135—145 mEq/L  Albumin: 3.4—5.0 g/dL
should agree. If the question is an  Potassium: 3.5—5.5 mEq/L  Bilirubin: <1.0 mg/dL
incomplete sentence, the correct answer  Calcium: 8.5—10.9 mEq/L  Total Cholesterol: 130—200 mg/dL
should complete the question in a  Chloride: 95—105 mEq/L  Triglyceride: 40—50 mg/dL
grammatically correct manner.  Magnesium: 1.5—2.5 mEq/L  Uric acid: 3.5—7.5 mg/dL
 Phosphorus: 2.5—4.5 mEq/L  CPK: 21-232 U/L

, 8. Therapeutic Drug Levels  1 gram (g) = 1,000 mg  Category C—Risk not ruled out.
 Carbamazepine (Tegretol): 4—10  1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 lbs Examples: Rifampicin (Rifampin),
mcg/ml  1 lb = 16 oz Theophylline (Theolair).
 Digoxin (Lanoxin): 0.8—2.0 ng/ml  Convert C to F: C+40 multiply by 9/5 and  Category D—Positive evidence of risk.
 Gentamycin (Garamycin): 5—10 mcg/ml subtract 40 Examples: Phenytoin, Tetracycline.
(peak), <2.0 mcg/ml (valley)  Convert F to C: F+40 multiply by 5/9 and  Category X—Contraindicated in
 Lithium (Eskalith): 0.8—1.5 mEq/L subtract 40 Pregnancy. Examples: Isotretinoin
 Phenobarbital (Solfoton): 15—40 11. Maternity Normal Values (Accutane), Thalidomide (Immunoprin),
mcg/mL  Fetal Heart Rate: 120—160 bpm etc.
 Phenytoin (Dilantin): 10—20 mcg/dL  Variability: 6—10 bpm  Pregnancy Category N—Not yet
 Theophylline (Aminophylline): 10—20  Amniotic fluid: 500—1200 ml classified
mcg/dL  Contractions: 2—5 minutes apart with 14. Drug Schedules
 Tobramycin (Tobrex): 5—10 mcg/mL duration of < 90 seconds and intensity  Schedule I—no currently accepted
(peak), 0.5—2.0 mcg/mL (valley) of <100 mmHg. medical use and for research use only
 Valproic Acid (Depakene): 50—100  APGAR Scoring: Appearance, Pulses, (e.g., heroin, LSD, MDMA).
mcg/ml Grimace, Activity, Reflex Irritability. Done  Schedule II—drugs with high potential
 Vancomycin (Vancocin): 20—40 mcg/ml at 1 and 5 minutes with a score of 0 for for abuse and requires written
(peak), 5 to 15 mcg/ml (trough) absent, 1 for decreased, and 2 for prescription (e.g., Ritalin,
9. Anticoagulant therapy strongly positive. Scores 7 and above hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine
 Sodium warfarin (Coumadin) PT: 10—12 are generally normal, 4 to 6 fairly low, (Demerol), and fentanyl).
seconds (control). The antidote is and 3 and below are generally regarded  Schedule III—requires new prescription
Vitamin K. as critically low. after six months or five refills (e.g.,
 INR (Coumadin): 0.9—1.2  AVA: The umbilical cord has two arteries codeine, testosterone, ketamine).
 Heparin PTT: 30—45 seconds (control). and one vein.  Schedule IV—requires new prescription
The antidote is protamine sulfate. 12. STOP—Treatment for maternal hypotension after six months (e.g., Darvon, Xanax,
 APTT: 23.3—31.9 seconds after an epidural anesthesia: Soma, and Valium).
 Fibrinogen level: 203—377 mg/dL  Stop infusion of Pitocin.  Schedule V—dispensed as any other
10. Conversions  Turn the client on her left side. prescription or without prescription
 1 teaspoon (t) = 5 ml  Administer oxygen. (e.g., cough preparations, Lomotil,
 1 tablespoon (T) = 3 t = 15 ml  If hypovolemia is present, push IV fluids. Motofen).
 1 oz = 30 ml 13. Pregnancy Category of Drugs 15. Medication Classifications
 1 cup = 8 oz  Category A—No risk in controlled human  Antacids—reduces hydrochloric acid in
 1 quart = 2 pints studies the stomach.
 1 pint = 2 cups  Category B—No risk in other studies.  Antianemics—increases blood cell
 1 grain (gr) = 60 mg Examples: Amoxicillin, Cefotaxime. production.