Want to test your diagnostics knowledge before the NCLEX-RN exam? Below are free sample flashcards from the 40-card diagnostics section of our 1030-card NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) deck, which covers Lovenox and more.
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A patient with COPD presents with: pH 7.31, PaCO2 52 mmHg, HCO3 28 mEq/L. How should the nurse interpret this acid-base imbalance?
Show answer →Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated. Rationale: 1. pH < 7.35 (Acidosis). 2. PaCO2 > 45 (Respiratory cause). 3. HCO3 > 26 (Kidneys are retaining bicarbonate to compensate). NCLEX Tip: COPD is the classic CO2 retainer scenario. Compensation is partial because the pH has not yet returned to the normal range (7.35-7.45). If the pH were 7.36, it would be Fully Compensated.
A patient with a pH of 7.15 and HCO3 of 12 is exhibiting deep, rapid Kussmaul respirations. What is the physiological purpose of this breathing pattern?
Show answer →Compensatory Respiratory Alkalosis. Rationales: The body is attempting to blow off CO2 (an acid) to increase the pH and compensate for the underlying Metabolic Acidosis (likely DKA or shock). NCLEX Tip: Do not attempt to slow these breaths or provide oxygen to fix the rate; the patient requires this respiratory compensation to prevent lethal pH levels. Focus on the metabolic cause.
A post-operative patient is prescribed Enoxaparin (Lovenox). Which lab value is the most important to monitor to ensure safety?
Show answer →Platelet count. Unlike unfractionated heparin, Enoxaparin does not require routine aPTT monitoring. However, it still carries a risk for Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT). NCLEX Tip: If the question asks about monitoring for Lovenox, look for platelets or signs of bleeding. Creatinine is also vital as the drug is renally cleared and contraindicated in severe renal failure.
A patient reports crushing chest pain that began 90 minutes ago. The initial Troponin I is 0.03 ng/mL (Reference: <0.04 ng/mL). What is the nurse's priority action?
Show answer →The nurse must continue serial cardiac enzyme monitoring and maintain MI precautions. Troponin levels may not rise for 3 to 6 hours after the onset of myocardial injury. A single normal troponin early in the presentation cannot rule out an MI. NCLEX Strategy: In the Rule Out MI protocol, the trend of the labs is more important than a single static value.
A nurse notes a wide-complex tachycardia at a rate of 160 bpm on the monitor. The patient is awake and oriented. What is the first action the nurse should take?
Show answer →The nurse must first assess the patient's pulse and blood pressure. This is Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) with a pulse. Management differs significantly from pulseless VT (which requires immediate defibrillation). For stable VT with a pulse, pharmacological intervention (Amiodarone or Procainamide) is indicated. For unstable VT with a pulse (hypotension, altered LOC), synchronized cardioversion is used. NCLEX Tip: Always treat the patient, not the monitor. Assessment is the first step of the nursing process.
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Try 30 free NCLEX-RN cards firstThe full NCLEX-RN deck contains 1030 flashcards, and 40 of them focus on diagnostics. This page shows 5 free samples.
Our NCLEX-RN deck dedicates 40 of 1030 cards (4%) to diagnostics — always cross-check the official NCSBN exam outline for the current blueprint weighting.
Yes — the samples on this page are free, and the NCLEX-RN preview page has 30 more free cards. Full access to all 1030 cards is a one-time $7.
Management
90 cards
Obstetrics
70 cards
Pathology
210 cards
Pediatrics
70 cards
Pharmacology
120 cards
Procedures
120 cards
Psychology
90 cards
Safety
60 cards
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