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Quizzes > Quizzes for Business > Healthcare

Nursing Lab Values Knowledge Test Quiz

Assess Understanding of Critical Lab Data

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art promoting a trivia quiz on Nursing Lab Values Knowledge Test.

Are you a nursing student seeking to sharpen your skills in interpreting lab results? This Nursing Lab Values Knowledge Test offers a concise set of 15 multiple-choice questions that guide you through critical parameters from hematology to biochemistry. Whether you're revisiting fundamentals in our Nursing Fundamentals Knowledge Assessment or comparing learning stages with a Medical Normal Values Knowledge Quiz, this tool adapts to your pace. Educators and students alike can customize this quiz for any curriculum in our quizzes editor. Dive in, test your knowledge, and transform lab data into confident clinical decisions.

What is the normal reference range for adult male hemoglobin in g/dL?
13.5-17.5
12.0-16.0
11.5-15.5
14.0-18.0
Adult males typically have a hemoglobin range of 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL. Values within this range are considered normal for healthy adult males.
Which of the following is the normal serum sodium level in mEq/L?
135-145
120-130
150-160
100-110
Normal serum sodium levels range from 135 to 145 mEq/L. Levels outside this range indicate hyponatremia or hypernatremia.
What is the normal serum potassium concentration in mEq/L?
3.5-5.0
2.0-3.0
5.5-7.0
1.5-2.5
Normal serum potassium levels range from 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L. Maintaining potassium within this range is essential for cardiac and neuromuscular function.
What is considered a normal fasting blood glucose level in mg/dL?
70-100
110-130
50-60
140-160
A normal fasting blood glucose level is between 70 and 100 mg/dL. Values above this range may suggest impaired glucose regulation or diabetes.
Which platelet count is within the normal range per microliter?
150,000-400,000
50,000-100,000
500,000-700,000
10,000-50,000
The normal platelet count ranges from 150,000 to 400,000 per µL. Counts below or above this range can increase bleeding or clotting risks respectively.
A patient's WBC count is 20,000 cells/mm³. Which condition is most likely?
Infection
Dehydration
Anemia
Liver failure
A WBC count above 11,000 cells/mm³ indicates leukocytosis, most commonly due to infection. Other causes are less likely at this level.
A blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level of 28 mg/dL suggests which of the following?
Dehydration
Normal function
Hepatic failure
Hypoglycemia
A BUN above the normal range (7 - 20 mg/dL) often indicates prerenal azotemia such as dehydration. Other options are not directly linked to elevated BUN.
A patient on warfarin has an INR of 3.5. What is the appropriate action?
Reduce the warfarin dose
Increase the warfarin dose
Maintain current dose
Administer vitamin K routinely
An INR above the therapeutic range (2.0 - 3.0) increases bleeding risk. Reducing the warfarin dose helps bring the INR back into range.
Interpret the ABG: pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 50 mm Hg, HCO₃❻ 24 mEq/L.
Respiratory acidosis
Metabolic acidosis
Respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic alkalosis
A low pH and elevated PaCO₂ with normal HCO₃❻ indicate respiratory acidosis. The primary disturbance is elevated CO₂ retention.
A serum calcium of 8.0 mg/dL is most likely associated with which symptom?
Muscle cramps
Constipation
Polyuria
Hypertension
A calcium level below 8.5 mg/dL is hypocalcemia, commonly causing neuromuscular irritability such as muscle cramps.
An AST/ALT ratio greater than 2:1 is most indicative of which condition?
Alcoholic liver disease
Viral hepatitis
Cholecystitis
Pancreatitis
An AST/ALT ratio >2:1 is characteristic of alcoholic liver disease. Viral hepatitis typically shows ALT higher than AST.
A patient receiving heparin has an aPTT of 80 seconds (normal 30 - 40 s). What does this imply?
Therapeutic anticoagulation
Heparin underdose
Heparin overdose
No anticoagulation effect
Heparin therapy is considered therapeutic with an aPTT of approximately 1.5 - 2 times normal (60 - 80 s). An 80 s value is within the therapeutic range.
A creatinine clearance of 50 mL/min should prompt which action?
Adjust dose of renally excreted drugs
No change in dose
Increase fluid intake
Administer a diuretic
A creatinine clearance of 50 mL/min indicates moderate renal impairment and necessitates dosage adjustment for drugs excreted by the kidneys.
A patient's capillary glucose is 45 mg/dL. What is the immediate nursing action?
Administer 15 g oral glucose
Withhold insulin
Give 0.9% saline
Administer subcutaneous heparin
A glucose level of 45 mg/dL indicates hypoglycemia; administering 15 g oral glucose is the first-line response to rapidly raise blood sugar.
Platelet count is 80,000 /µL. What is the priority nursing intervention?
Assess for bleeding
Encourage ambulation
Administer heparin
Restrict oral fluids
A platelet count below 150,000 /µL increases bleeding risk. The nurse should assess for any signs of bleeding or bruising.
Interpret the ABG: pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 30 mm Hg, HCO₃❻ 12 mEq/L.
Mixed metabolic and respiratory acidosis
Respiratory acidosis
Metabolic acidosis
Metabolic alkalosis
Both a low HCO₃❻ (metabolic acidosis) and an inappropriately low PaCO₂ (below expected compensation) indicate a mixed metabolic and respiratory acidosis.
Calculate the anion gap for Na 140, Cl 104, HCO₃❻ 20 mEq/L and identify a likely cause.
Anion gap 16 - diabetic ketoacidosis
Anion gap 16 - respiratory alkalosis
Anion gap 6 - dehydration
Anion gap 6 - lactic acidosis
An anion gap of 140 - (104+20)=16 mEq/L is elevated (normal 8 - 12). One common cause of high anion gap metabolic acidosis is diabetic ketoacidosis.
A CKD patient has a serum potassium of 6.2 mEq/L. What is the most urgent intervention?
Administer IV calcium gluconate
Infuse 0.9% saline
Begin diuretic therapy
Withhold dietary potassium
An elevated potassium of 6.2 mEq/L poses a risk of cardiac arrhythmias. IV calcium gluconate stabilizes the myocardium immediately.
A total bilirubin of 3.0 mg/dL with predominantly unconjugated bilirubin suggests which condition?
Hemolytic anemia
Cholestasis
Viral hepatitis
Primary biliary cirrhosis
Elevated unconjugated bilirubin often results from excessive hemolysis. Conditions causing cholestasis elevate conjugated bilirubin instead.
Which lab finding supports an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction?
Decreased haptoglobin
Increased haptoglobin
Increased albumin
Decreased LDH
Haptoglobin binds free hemoglobin; during hemolysis it is consumed and levels fall. LDH typically rises rather than decreases.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify normal and abnormal lab value ranges for key parameters.
  2. Analyse implications of lab deviations in patient care.
  3. Evaluate critical thresholds for common hematology and chemistry labs.
  4. Apply lab value interpretation to real-world scenarios.
  5. Demonstrate confidence in correlating lab findings with symptoms.

Cheat Sheet

  1. CBC Normal Ranges - Get to know the typical limits for Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, and Platelets so you can ace your bloodwork interpretations. For instance, females usually hover between 4.5 - 5.0 million RBCs/mm³ and males between 4.7 - 6.2 million RBCs/mm³. OpenStax Lab Values Guide
  2. Electrolyte Essentials - Keep an eye on Sodium (135 - 145 mEq/L), Potassium (3.5 - 5.1 mEq/L), and Calcium (8.6 - 10.2 mg/dL) because even small imbalances can zap your muscle function and heart rhythm. Memorizing these ranges will make you feel like a chemistry wizard in clinical scenarios. OpenStax Lab Values Guide
  3. Coagulation Checkpoints - Understand that a normal INR sits around 0.8 - 1.2, but if someone's on warfarin, aim for 2 - 3. Prothrombin Time (PT) usually falls between 11 - 13 seconds, making it your go-to measure of blood clotting speed. OpenStax Lab Values Guide
  4. Renal Function Basics - Recognize that Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) is normally 6 - 24 mg/dL and Serum Creatinine around 0.6 - 1.2 mg/dL; spikes in either hint at kidney trouble. Keeping these numbers straight will help you troubleshoot renal issues like a pro. OpenStax Lab Values Guide
  5. ABG Norms - Learn the key values: pH 7.35 - 7.45, PaO₂ 80 - 100 mmHg, PaCO₂ 35 - 45 mmHg, and HCO₃❻ 22 - 26 mEq/L to swiftly assess a patient's respiratory and metabolic status. ABGs can seem daunting, but once you canonize these ranges, interpreting them feels like reading a map. OpenStax Lab Values Guide
  6. Liver Function Tests - Know that AST and ALT normally stay under 40 units/L (with slight gender tweaks) and that spikes usually signal liver stress or damage. Pinning down these values helps you spot hepatotoxicity before symptoms explode. OpenStax Lab Values Guide
  7. Lipid Panel Landmarks - Total Cholesterol should be under 170 mg/dL, LDL under 100 mg/dL, and HDL over 40 mg/dL to keep hearts happy. These numbers are the cornerstones of cardiovascular risk assessment and wellness coaching. OpenStax Lab Values Guide
  8. Hemoglobin A1C Insights - A1C under 5.7% is normal, 5.7 - 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and anything above 6.5% is in the diabetes range. This test is your window into a patient's average blood sugar over the past 2 - 3 months. OpenStax Lab Values Guide
  9. Spotting Abnormalities - High WBCs often scream "infection!", while low Hematocrit may whisper "anemia." Learning to correlate lab results with patient symptoms turns you into a detective in scrubs. Nurseslabs: NCLEX Lab Values
  10. Mnemonic Magic - Use fun memory tricks like "Little Maggie is 1.6 - 2.6 years old" to lock in that Magnesium runs 1.6 - 2.6 mg/dL. Mnemonics turn dry numbers into memorable stories that stick. Nurseslabs: NCLEX Lab Values
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