. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. LDH: 100–190 U/L
. V ariable decelerations—Are noted as
. CPK: 21–232 U/L
V-shaped on the monitoring strip. Variable
. Uric acid: 3.5–7.5 mg/dL
decelerations can occur anytime during
. Triglyceride: <150 mg/dL
monitoring of the fetus. They are caused
. Total cholesterol: 130–200 mg/dL
by cord compression. The intervention is to
change the mother’s position; if pitocin is
. Bilirubin: < 1.0 mg/dL
The NCLEX-RN
Cram Sheet
®
infusing, stop the infusion; apply oxygen;
. Protein: 6.2–8.1 g/dL
and increase the rate of IV fluids. Contact the
. Albumin: 3.4–5.0 g/dL
doctor if the problem persists.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. L ate decelerations—Occur after the peak
17. Therapeutic drug levels
of the contraction and mirror the contraction
This cram sheet contains the distilled, key facts about the licensure exam. Review this informa-
. Digoxin: 0.5–2.0 ng/ml
in length and intensity. These are caused by
tion just before you enter the testing center, paying special attention to those areas where you
. Lithium: 0.8–1.5 mEq/L
uteroplacental insuffiency. The intervention
feel you need the most review. You can transfer any of these facts from your head onto a blank
. Dilantin: 10–20 mcg/dL
is to change the mother’s position; if pitocin
sheet provided by the testing center. We also recommend reading the glossary as a last-minute
is infusing, stop the infusion; apply oxygen;,
. Theophylline: 10–20 mcg/dL
cram tool before entering the testing center. Good luck.
and increase the rate of IV fluids. Contact the
18. Vital signs (adult)
doctor if the problem persists.
General TesT InformaTIon
11. Make an educated guess—If you are unsure
. Heart rate: 80–100
22. TORCHS syndrome in the neonate—This is a
after carefully reading the question and all the
. Respiratory rate: 12–20
combination of diseases. These include toxoplas-
1. Minimum 75/maximum 265—The maximum time
answers, choose C or the answer with the most
mosis, rubella (German measles), cytomegalovirus,
allotted for the test is 6 hours. Don’t get frustrated
. B lood pressure: 110–120 (systolic); 60–90
information.
herpes, and syphyllis. Pregnant nurses should not
if you need to take the entire number of items
(diastolic)
12. Don’t hurry, you are not penalized for running
be assigned to care for the client with toxoplasmo-
or take the entire allotted time. Get up and move
. Temperature: 98.6° +/–1
out of time. If you run out of time the computer
sis or cytomegalovirus.
around and take breaks if you need a time-out.
calculates the last 60 items for consistency above
19. Maternity normals
23. STOP—This is the treatment for maternal
2. Take deep breaths and imagine yourself
or below the pass-point.
. FHR: 120–160 BPM.
hypotension after an epidural anesthesia:
studying in your favorite location—Take a small
13. Serum electrolytes—It is important for you to
item with you that you have had with you during
. Variability: 6–10 BPM.
1. Stop pitocin if infusing.
remember these normal lab values because they
your study time.
. C ontractions: normal frequency 2–5 minutes
2. Turn the client on the left side.
might be included in questions throughout the test.
3. Read the question and all answers carefully—
apart; normal duration < 90 sec.;
3. Administer oxygen.
. Sodium: 135–145 mEq/L
Don’t jump to conclusions or make wild guesses.
intensity < 100 mm/hg.
4. If hypovolemia is present, push IV fluids.
. Potassium: 3.5–5.5 mEq/L
4. Look for keywords—Avoid answers that include
. A mniotic fluid: 500–1200 ml (nitrozine
always, never, all, every, only, must, no, except,
24. Anticoagulant therapy and monitoring
. Calcium: 8.5–10.9 mg/L
urine-litmus paper green/amniotic fluid-
or none.
litmus paper blue).
. C oumadin (sodium warfarin) PT: 10–12 sec.
. Chloride: 95–105 m Eq/L
5. Watch for specific details—Avoid vague
(control).
. A pgar scoring: A = appearance, P = pulses,
. Magnesium: 1.5–2.5 mEq/L
answers. Look for adjectives and adverbs.
G = grimace, A = activity, R = reflexes (Done
. A ntidote: The antidote for Coumadin is
. Phosphorus: 2.5–4.5 mg/dL
at 1 and 5 minutes with a score of 0 for
6. Eliminate answers that are clearly wrong or
vitamin K.
14. Hematology values
absent, 1 for decreased, and 2 for strongly
incorrect—Eliminating any incorrect answer
. H eparin/Lovenox/Dalteparin PTT: 30–45 sec.
positive.)
increases the probability of selecting the correct
. RBC: 4.5–5.0 million
(control).
answer by 25%.
. A VA: The umbilical cord has two arteries and
. WBC: 5,000–10,000
. A ntidote: The antidote for Heparin is
one vein. (Arteries carry deoxygenated blood.
7. Look for information given within the
protamine sulfate.
. Plt.: 200,000–400,000
The vein carries oxygenated blood.)
question and the answers—For example, the
. T herapeutic level: It is important to maintain
. Hgb: 12–16 gms women; 14–18 gms men
phrase “client with diabetic ketoacidosis” should
20. FAB 9—Folic acid = B9. Hint: B stands for brain
a bleeding time that is slightly prolonged so
bring to mind the range of 7.35–7.45 or normal pH.
15. ABG values
(decreases the incidence of neural tube defects);
that clotting will not occur; therefore, the
8. Look for the same or similar wording in the
the client should begin taking B9 three months
. HCO
: 24–26 mEq/L
bleeding time with medication should be
3
question and the answers.
prior to becoming pregnant.
1 1/2–2 times the control.
. CO
: 35–45 mEq/L
2
9. Watch for grammatical inconsistencies—
21. Abnormalities in the laboring obstetric client—
* The control is the premedication bleeding time.
. PaO
: 80%–100%
Subjects and verbs should agree, meaning singular
2
Decelerations are abnormal findings on the fetal
. SaO
: > 95%
25. Rule of nines for calculating TBSA for burns
subject, singular verb or plural subject, plural verb.
monitoring strip. Decelerations are classified as
2
If the question is an incomplete sentence, the
. H ead = 9%
16. Chemistry values
. E arly decelerations—Begin prior to the
correct answer should complete the question in a
peak of the contraction and end by the end
. A rms = 18% (9% each)
. Glucose: 70–110 mg/dL
grammatically correct manner.
of the contraction. They are caused by head
. B ack = 18%
. Specific gravity: 1.010–1.030
10. Don’t read into questions—Reading into the
compression. There is no need for interven-
. L egs = 36% (18% each)
question can create errors in judgment. If the
. BUN: 7–22 mg/dL
tion if the variability is within normal range
question asks for an immediate response or priori-
(that is, there is a rapid return to the baseline
. G enitalia = 1%
. S erum creatinine: 0.6–1.35 mg/dL
tization of action, choose the answer that is critical
fetal heart rate) and the fetal heart rate is
(< 2 in older adults)
to the life and safety of the client.
within normal range.
* I nformation included in laboratory test may vary
slightly according to methods used
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