Nursing Lab Values Cheat Sheets | Rangewise Printable Normal Ranges, Critical Values & ABG Study Guide for Nursing Students

Nursing lab values cheat sheets that take you from “what’s the range?” to “what do I do?”

Rangewise Nursing Lab Values Cheat Sheets is a 50-page printable study pack for nursing students. It covers the normal adult lab values nursing exams test most, the critical (panic) values that need fast reporting, ABG interpretation, and the nursing implications for highs and lows. Every reference range appears in conventional U.S. units and SI units, with a small tag that shows which authoritative source it was checked against.

Reference ranges vary by laboratory, so the pack says so up front and gives you a page to record your own facility’s ranges. It is an educational study aid, not medical advice.

Who it is for

• Nursing students in ADN, BSN, accelerated and LPN/LVN programs learning lab values for med-surg, fundamentals and pharmacology courses
• Students doing NCLEX prep who want lab values, ABGs and priority questions in one place (NCLEX® is a registered trademark of NCSBN, which does not endorse this product.)
• New graduate nurses who want a structured refresher before orientation
• Study groups and tutors who want printable quizzes and ABG practice (each person needs their own copy)

Main benefits

• Trust the numbers: each range is tagged to ABIM (2026 reference ranges), MedlinePlus, StatPearls, ADA/CDC, the National Kidney Foundation or the Merck Manual, with full references on the sources page.
• Think like a nurse: every panel lists common causes of highs and lows, and the electrolyte pages add signs, ECG changes and nursing implications.
• Practice, not just reading: 20 ABG problems and 60 multiple-choice questions, all with rationales.
• Print it your way: US Letter or A4, full color or ink-saving black-and-white where meaning never depends on color.

What is included

Reference pages

• Master quick sheet with the most-tested values on one page
• Complete blood count (CBC) with RBC indices, plus the WBC differential and absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
• Electrolytes (BMP/CMP) with corrected calcium and anion gap formulas
• Highs and lows for sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus: signs, ECG changes, nursing implications
• Renal function with BUN:creatinine ratio, eGFR stages and urine output
• Glucose and A1C: diagnostic cutoffs, ADA hypoglycemia levels and an A1C-to-eAG table
• Liver and pancreas, coagulation (PT/INR, aPTT, warfarin vs heparin), cardiac markers (troponin, BNP, NT-proBNP, lactate), lipids and thyroid patterns
• Urinalysis basics, a lab patterns page (DKA, AKI, liver failure, SIADH, sepsis and more) and a critical values page with reporting steps

ABG toolkit

• The 6-step interpretation method and ROME
• Tic-tac-toe method with 4 worked examples
• Compensation guide and the four primary disorders with causes, signs and nursing focus
• 20 practice problems with grids and an answer key with rationales

Study tools

• Memory tricks for the numbers, plus classic mnemonics (MURDER, SALT LOSS, CATS, ROME, MUDPILES, WEPT)
• 6 quizzes (60 questions) with answer keys and rationales
• SI unit conversion table, a fill-in “My facility’s ranges” page, a lab mastery tracker, a score log and an undated 4-week study plan
• 24 cut-out flashcards and 6 badge reference cards (2.125 × 3.375 in), including a blank card for your facility’s critical values

How it works

1. Download the files and open the PDF that matches your paper size.
2. Read the one-page “Read this first” notice and legend.
3. Follow the 4-week plan: learn a panel a day, practice ABGs, take the quizzes and log your scores.
4. Print the master sheet, flashcards and badge cards for quick review.

File formats and software

• 4 PDF files: US Letter color, US Letter black-and-white, A4 color, A4 black-and-white (50 pages each)
• User guide in Word (.docx)
• Opens in any PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or a web browser; prints on any home or office printer
• The Contents page is linked: tap a title to jump to it, and tap “Contents” in any footer to go back

Customization

The pack is designed to be written on. Record your program’s or clinical site’s numbers on the “My facility’s ranges” page and the blank badge card, track your progress on the mastery tracker, and annotate the PDF in any app that opens PDFs. Fonts and graphics are embedded, so pages print the same on any computer.

Digital download

This is a digital product. No physical item ships. You get instant access to the files after purchase from your Taskdale account. Personal use only: you may not resell, share or redistribute the files.

Use cases

• Reviewing lab values the week before a med-surg or fundamentals exam
• Drilling ABG interpretation until ROME and compensation feel automatic
• Carrying a badge card on clinical days (check your school’s rules first)
• Running a study group with the printable quizzes and answer keys
• Building a lab-values section for an NCLEX prep binder

FAQ

Are these the same ranges my school uses?

Maybe not exactly. Labs and textbooks set their own ranges. These are commonly cited adult ranges, each tagged to its source. When your program’s numbers differ, use theirs; there is a page to write them down.

Does it include SI units?

Yes. Every range in the reference tables has an SI column, and a conversion page lists the factors with examples.

Does it cover ABG interpretation?

Yes: the 6-step method, ROME, the tic-tac-toe method, compensation, 20 practice problems and a full answer key.

Are there practice questions?

Yes. Six 10-question quizzes (60 questions) with rationales, plus the 20 ABG problems.

Is there a black-and-white version?

Yes, in both US Letter and A4. Nothing in it depends on color.

Are pediatric values or medication doses included?

No. All values are adult ranges, and the pack contains no medication dosing.

Is this an official NCLEX product?

No. It is an independent study aid. NCLEX® is a registered trademark of NCSBN, which does not endorse this product.

Educational study aid, not medical advice. Reference ranges vary by laboratory: always use your facility’s reference ranges and follow your instructor and facility policy.