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129 cards · .apkg and CSV

NCLEX-RN High-Yield Essentials — MintDeck

129 high-yield cards for NCLEX-RN and nursing-school exams. Each card uses a clean front/back format — a prompt on the front and a concise, board-style answer on the back — across normal lab values, pharmacology, med-surg, maternal-newborn, pediatrics, mental health, and prioritization/delegation.

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1Front
Normal serum sodium (Na+)

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

1Back
135–145 mEq/L. Below 135 = hyponatremia; above 145 = hypernatremia.
2Front
Normal serum potassium (K+)

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

2Back
3.5–5.0 mEq/L. A small range with big consequences — both hypo- and hyperkalemia cause cardiac dysrhythmias.
3Front
Normal serum calcium (total)

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

3Back
9.0–10.5 mg/dL. Hypocalcemia → tetany, positive Chvostek/Trousseau signs.
4Front
Normal serum magnesium

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

4Back
1.3–2.1 mEq/L. Low Mg often accompanies low K+ and low Ca++.
5Front
Normal serum chloride (Cl-)

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

5Back
98–106 mEq/L.
6Front
Normal fasting blood glucose

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

6Back
70–110 mg/dL. Treat hypoglycemia (<70) with 15 g fast-acting carbohydrate.
7Front
Normal hemoglobin A1c (non-diabetic)

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

7Back
Below 5.7%. ADA goal for most diabetics is below 7%.
8Front
Normal white blood cell count (WBC)

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

8Back
5,000–10,000/mm³. Elevated suggests infection; very low (neutropenia) requires protective precautions.
9Front
Normal hemoglobin (Hgb)

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

9Back
Male 14–18 g/dL; Female 12–16 g/dL.
10Front
Normal hematocrit (Hct)

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

10Back
Male 42–52%; Female 37–47%. Roughly 3× the hemoglobin.
11Front
Normal platelet count

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

11Back
150,000–400,000/mm³. Below 50,000 raises bleeding risk; below 20,000 is critical.
12Front
Normal BUN (blood urea nitrogen)

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

12Back
10–20 mg/dL. Elevated in dehydration and renal impairment.
13Front
Normal serum creatinine

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

13Back
0.6–1.2 mg/dL. The most specific routine marker of kidney function.
14Front
Normal INR (no anticoagulation)

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

14Back
0.8–1.1. Therapeutic range on warfarin is generally 2.0–3.0.
15Front
Normal aPTT

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

15Back
30–40 seconds. Therapeutic on heparin is about 1.5–2.5× the control value.
16Front
Normal arterial blood pH

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

16Back
7.35–7.45. Below 7.35 = acidosis; above 7.45 = alkalosis.
17Front
Normal PaCO2

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

17Back
35–45 mmHg. The respiratory component of acid–base balance.
18Front
Normal HCO3 (bicarbonate)

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

18Back
22–26 mEq/L. The metabolic component of acid–base balance.
19Front
Normal PaO2

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

19Back
80–100 mmHg.
20Front
Therapeutic digoxin level

lab-values · mintdeck · nclex-rn

20Back
0.5–2.0 ng/mL. Toxicity: nausea, vomiting, visual changes (yellow-green halos), bradycardia.

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Topics covered

8 topics

  • Normal Lab Values

    Electrolytes, CBC, ABGs, INR/aPTT, therapeutic drug levels

    22 cards
  • Pharmacology

    Drug classes, antidotes, and key nursing considerations

    26 cards
  • Fundamentals & Safety

    Infection precautions, positioning, the rights of med admin

    14 cards
  • Medical-Surgical

    Cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, GI, renal & neuro essentials

    25 cards
  • Maternal-Newborn

    FHR patterns, preeclampsia, postpartum, newborn care

    12 cards
  • Pediatrics

    Growth milestones, airway emergencies, safety

    10 cards
  • Mental Health

    Therapeutic communication, crisis safety, withdrawal

    10 cards
  • Prioritization & Delegation

    Scope of practice, the 5 rights of delegation, who to see first

    10 cards

Card format

Front
Concept, lab, or clinical-scenario prompte.g. ECG/clinical signs of hyperkalemia
Back
Concise board-style answer with the key nursing rationale

Who it’s for

  • Nursing students preparing for the NCLEX-RN
  • BSN/ADN students reviewing for med-surg, pharmacology, or fundamentals exams
  • New graduate nurses wanting a quick refresh on high-yield facts

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MintDeck’s FSRS spaced repetition surfaces each lab value, drug, and priority rule right before you’d forget it — so the high-yield facts are locked in by test day.

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This deck is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice or a substitute for an accredited nursing curriculum or official NCLEX preparation materials. Reference ranges and clinical guidance vary by source and institution — always follow your facility’s protocols and current evidence. NCLEX-RN® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), which does not endorse this product.