PROFESSIONAL INTERGRATION 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 • PaO2: 80%—100%
• 75/265—the minimum number of can’t make the best answer for a • SaO2: >95%
questions you can answer is 75 and a question after carefully reading it, 6. Acid-Base Balance
maximum of 265. choose the answer with the most • Remember ROME (respiratory
• Read the question and answers information. opposite/metabolic equal) to remember
carefully—do not jump into conclusions 2. Vital Signs that in respiratory acid/base disorders
or make wild guesses. • Heart rate: 80—100 bpm the pH is opposite to the other
• Look for keywords—Avoid answers • Respiratory rate: 12-20 rpm components.
with absolutes like always, never, all, • Blood pressure: 110-120/60 mmHg • Use the Tic-Tac-Toe Method for
every, only, must, except, none, or no. • Temperature: 37 °C (98.6 °F) interpreting ABGs
• Don’t read into the question— 3. Hematology values 7. Chemistry Values
Never assume anything that has not • RBCs: 4.5—5.0 million • Glucose: 70—110 mg/dL
been specifically mentioned and don’t • WBCs: 5,000—10,000 • Specific Gravity: 1.010—1.030
add extra meaning to the question. • Platelets: 200,000—400,000 • BUN: 7-22 mg/dL
• Eliminate answers that are clearly • Hemoglobin (Hgb): 12—16 gm • Serum creatinine: 0.6—1.35 mg/dL
wrong or incorrect—to increase your (female); 14—18 gm (male). • LDH: 100-190 U/L
probability of selecting the correct • Hematocrit (Hct): 37—47 (female); 40— • Protein: 6.2—8.1 g/dL
answer! 54 (male) • Albumin: 3.4—5.0 g/dL
• Watch for grammatical 4. Serum electrolytes • Bilirubin: <1.0 mg/dL
inconsistencies—Subjects and verbs • Sodium: 135—145 mEq/L • Total Cholesterol: 130—200 mg/dL
should agree. If the question is an • Potassium: 3.5—5.5 mEq/L • Triglyceride: 40—50 mg/dL
incomplete sentence, the correct answer • Calcium: 8.5—10.9 mEq/L • Uric acid: 3.5—7.5 mg/dL
should complete the question in a • Chloride: 95—105 mEq/L • CPK: 21-232 U/L
grammatically correct manner. • Magnesium: 1.5—2.5 mEq/L
• Phosphorus: 2.5—4.5 mEq/L
, 8. Therapeutic Drug Levels • 1 gram (g) = 1,000 mg • Category C—Risk not ruled out.
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol): 4— • 1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 lbs Examples: Rifampicin (Rifampin),
10 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 subtract 40 Examples: Phenytoin, Tetracycline.
mcg/ml (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— 11. Maternity Normal Values (Accutane), Thalidomide (Immunoprin),
40 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— • Amniotic fluid: 500—1200 ml classified
20 mcg/dL • Contractions: 2—5 minutes apart with 14. Drug Schedules
• Tobramycin (Tobrex): 5—10 duration of < 90 seconds and intensity • Schedule I—no currently accepted
mcg/mL (peak), 0.5—2.0 mcg/mL of <100 mmHg. medical use and for research use only
(valley) • APGAR Scoring: Appearance, Pulses, (e.g., heroin, LSD, MDMA).
• Valproic Acid (Depakene): 50— Grimace, Activity, Reflex Irritability. Done • Schedule II—drugs with high potential
100 mcg/ml at 1 and 5 minutes with a score of 0 for for abuse and requires written
• Vancomycin (Vancocin): 20—40 absent, 1 for decreased, and 2 for prescription (e.g., Ritalin,
mcg/ml (peak), 5 to 15 mcg/ml (trough) strongly positive. Scores 7 and above are hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine
9. Anticoagulant therapy generally normal, 4 to 6 fairly low, and 3 (Demerol), and fentanyl).
• Sodium warfarin (Coumadin) PT: 10— and below are generally regarded as • Schedule III—requires new prescription
12 seconds (control). The antidote is critically low. after six months or five refills (e.g.,
Vitamin K. • AVA: The umbilical cord has two arteries codeine, testosterone, ketamine).
• INR (Coumadin): 0.9—1.2 and one vein. • Schedule IV—requires new
• Heparin PTT: 30—45 seconds 12. STOP—Treatment for maternal hypotension prescription after six months (e.g.,
(control). The antidote is protamine after an epidural anesthesia: Darvon, Xanax, Soma, and Valium).
sulfate. • Stop infusion of Pitocin. • Schedule V—dispensed as any
• APTT: 23.3—31.9 seconds • Turn the client on her left side. other prescription or without
• Fibrinogen level: 203—377 mg/dL • Administer oxygen. prescription (e.g., cough
10. Conversions • If hypovolemia is present, push IV fluids. preparations, Lomotil, Motofen).
• 1 teaspoon (t) = 5 ml 13. Pregnancy Category of Drugs 15. Medication Classifications
• 1 tablespoon (T) = 3 t = 15 ml • Category A—No risk in controlled human • Antacids—reduces hydrochloric acid in
• 1 oz = 30 ml studies the stomach.
• 1 cup = 8 oz • Category B—No risk in other studies. • Antianemics—increases blood
• 1 quart = 2 pints Examples: Amoxicillin, Cefotaxime. cell production.
• 1 pint = 2 cups
• 1 grain (gr) = 60 mg
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 • PaO2: 80%—100%
• 75/265—the minimum number of can’t make the best answer for a • SaO2: >95%
questions you can answer is 75 and a question after carefully reading it, 6. Acid-Base Balance
maximum of 265. choose the answer with the most • Remember ROME (respiratory
• Read the question and answers information. opposite/metabolic equal) to remember
carefully—do not jump into conclusions 2. Vital Signs that in respiratory acid/base disorders
or make wild guesses. • Heart rate: 80—100 bpm the pH is opposite to the other
• Look for keywords—Avoid answers • Respiratory rate: 12-20 rpm components.
with absolutes like always, never, all, • Blood pressure: 110-120/60 mmHg • Use the Tic-Tac-Toe Method for
every, only, must, except, none, or no. • Temperature: 37 °C (98.6 °F) interpreting ABGs
• Don’t read into the question— 3. Hematology values 7. Chemistry Values
Never assume anything that has not • RBCs: 4.5—5.0 million • Glucose: 70—110 mg/dL
been specifically mentioned and don’t • WBCs: 5,000—10,000 • Specific Gravity: 1.010—1.030
add extra meaning to the question. • Platelets: 200,000—400,000 • BUN: 7-22 mg/dL
• Eliminate answers that are clearly • Hemoglobin (Hgb): 12—16 gm • Serum creatinine: 0.6—1.35 mg/dL
wrong or incorrect—to increase your (female); 14—18 gm (male). • LDH: 100-190 U/L
probability of selecting the correct • Hematocrit (Hct): 37—47 (female); 40— • Protein: 6.2—8.1 g/dL
answer! 54 (male) • Albumin: 3.4—5.0 g/dL
• Watch for grammatical 4. Serum electrolytes • Bilirubin: <1.0 mg/dL
inconsistencies—Subjects and verbs • Sodium: 135—145 mEq/L • Total Cholesterol: 130—200 mg/dL
should agree. If the question is an • Potassium: 3.5—5.5 mEq/L • Triglyceride: 40—50 mg/dL
incomplete sentence, the correct answer • Calcium: 8.5—10.9 mEq/L • Uric acid: 3.5—7.5 mg/dL
should complete the question in a • Chloride: 95—105 mEq/L • CPK: 21-232 U/L
grammatically correct manner. • Magnesium: 1.5—2.5 mEq/L
• Phosphorus: 2.5—4.5 mEq/L
, 8. Therapeutic Drug Levels • 1 gram (g) = 1,000 mg • Category C—Risk not ruled out.
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol): 4— • 1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 lbs Examples: Rifampicin (Rifampin),
10 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 subtract 40 Examples: Phenytoin, Tetracycline.
mcg/ml (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— 11. Maternity Normal Values (Accutane), Thalidomide (Immunoprin),
40 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— • Amniotic fluid: 500—1200 ml classified
20 mcg/dL • Contractions: 2—5 minutes apart with 14. Drug Schedules
• Tobramycin (Tobrex): 5—10 duration of < 90 seconds and intensity • Schedule I—no currently accepted
mcg/mL (peak), 0.5—2.0 mcg/mL of <100 mmHg. medical use and for research use only
(valley) • APGAR Scoring: Appearance, Pulses, (e.g., heroin, LSD, MDMA).
• Valproic Acid (Depakene): 50— Grimace, Activity, Reflex Irritability. Done • Schedule II—drugs with high potential
100 mcg/ml at 1 and 5 minutes with a score of 0 for for abuse and requires written
• Vancomycin (Vancocin): 20—40 absent, 1 for decreased, and 2 for prescription (e.g., Ritalin,
mcg/ml (peak), 5 to 15 mcg/ml (trough) strongly positive. Scores 7 and above are hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine
9. Anticoagulant therapy generally normal, 4 to 6 fairly low, and 3 (Demerol), and fentanyl).
• Sodium warfarin (Coumadin) PT: 10— and below are generally regarded as • Schedule III—requires new prescription
12 seconds (control). The antidote is critically low. after six months or five refills (e.g.,
Vitamin K. • AVA: The umbilical cord has two arteries codeine, testosterone, ketamine).
• INR (Coumadin): 0.9—1.2 and one vein. • Schedule IV—requires new
• Heparin PTT: 30—45 seconds 12. STOP—Treatment for maternal hypotension prescription after six months (e.g.,
(control). The antidote is protamine after an epidural anesthesia: Darvon, Xanax, Soma, and Valium).
sulfate. • Stop infusion of Pitocin. • Schedule V—dispensed as any
• APTT: 23.3—31.9 seconds • Turn the client on her left side. other prescription or without
• Fibrinogen level: 203—377 mg/dL • Administer oxygen. prescription (e.g., cough
10. Conversions • If hypovolemia is present, push IV fluids. preparations, Lomotil, Motofen).
• 1 teaspoon (t) = 5 ml 13. Pregnancy Category of Drugs 15. Medication Classifications
• 1 tablespoon (T) = 3 t = 15 ml • Category A—No risk in controlled human • Antacids—reduces hydrochloric acid in
• 1 oz = 30 ml studies the stomach.
• 1 cup = 8 oz • Category B—No risk in other studies. • Antianemics—increases blood
• 1 quart = 2 pints Examples: Amoxicillin, Cefotaxime. cell production.
• 1 pint = 2 cups
• 1 grain (gr) = 60 mg
