EASY TRICKS to Remember Lab Values [Nursing NCLEX, USMLE]

EZmed
20 Jul 202111:36
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis educational video simplifies memorization of common laboratory test normal ranges using mnemonic devices. It covers the basic metabolic panel, liver function tests, complete blood count, arterial blood gas, and coagulation studies, offering creative associations to remember values like sodium (135-145), potassium (3.5-5), BUN (5-20), creatinine (0.6-1.2), and more. The goal is to make learning lab values engaging and memorable for medical students and professionals.

Takeaways
  • 😀 The video provides mnemonic devices to remember the normal ranges of common laboratory tests.
  • 🔍 For sodium, 'OD' mnemonic suggests odd numbers 1, 3, and 5, leading to a normal range of 135-145.
  • 🍌 Potassium's normal range of 3.5-5 is associated with the number of bananas typically found in a bunch.
  • 🦶 The BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) range of 5-20 is remembered by the number of digits in the human body, which is 20.
  • 🏥 Creatinine's normal range of 0.6-1.2 is remembered by the middle value '0.9', derived from the word 'nine' in creatinine.
  • 🍬 Glucose's normal range of 70-100 is associated with the decline in energy during the elderly years.
  • 🥛 Calcium's range of 8.5-10.5 is remembered by the weight of a gallon of milk and the addition of 2% milk.
  • 💦 Chloride's normal range of 95-105 is associated with the average temperature of a hot tub.
  • 🥤 Bicarbonate's range of 23-29 is remembered by the number of sodas in a 12 pack, multiplied by 2.
  • 🏫 AST's normal range of 9-40 is remembered by the school day hours of 9am-4pm.
  • 👷 ALT's normal range of 7-60 is associated with a longer work day, starting at 7am and ending at 6pm.
  • 📚 Alkaline phosphatase's normal range of 40-120 is remembered by the 'ate' in phosphate, suggesting the middle value of 80.
  • 🍔 Bilirubin's normal value of less than 1 is remembered by the single Reuben sandwich typically served in a restaurant.
  • 🥤 Albumin's normal range of 3.4-5.4 is associated with the number of ingredients in a homemade protein shake.
  • 🚗 White blood cell count's normal range of 5,000-10,000 is remembered by the cost of a car, 'Wanna Buy a Car'.
  • 🩸 Red blood cell count's normal range of 4.5-5.5 is associated with the volume of blood in the human body.
  • 💨 Hemoglobin's normal range of 12-18 (12-16 for females, 14-18 for males) is remembered by the average breaths taken per minute at rest.
  • 🌡️ Hematocrit's normal range of 37-50% (37-47% for females, 42-50% for males) is associated with the typical age of a midlife crisis.
  • 🍽️ Platelet count's normal range of 150,000-400,000 is remembered by the cost of a fine China plate set.
  • 🧪 Arterial blood gas (ABG) values are remembered by the homeostasis pH of 7.4, pCO2 by the numbers after the pH decimal, and bicarbonate by the soda pack mnemonic.
  • 🩸 Coagulation studies like INR, PT, and PTT are remembered by simple word associations and numerical representations, such as INR being less than 1, PT by the number 10, and PTT by the sum of 20 or 30 plus 10.
Q & A

  • What is the main purpose of the video?

    -The main purpose of the video is to teach viewers an easy way to remember the normal ranges of common laboratory tests.

  • What is the first element of the basic metabolic panel discussed in the video, and how is it remembered?

    -The first element discussed is sodium, and it is remembered using the letters 'OD' in the word sodium to represent the odd numbers 1, 3, and 5, which correspond to the normal range of 135-145.

  • How is the normal range for potassium memorized according to the video?

    -The normal range for potassium is memorized by thinking of bananas, with 3-5 bananas in a bunch, and the idea of buying them 1/2 off, which corresponds to the range of 3.5-5.

  • What mnemonic is used to remember the normal range for BUN in the video?

    -The mnemonic used for BUN is 'bunion', with the association of bunions being on toes or digits, and having 5 digits per extremity, totaling 20 digits, which helps remember the normal range of 5-20.

  • How does the video suggest remembering the normal range for creatinine?

    -The video suggests using the word 'nine' in creatinine to remember 0.9, which is in the middle of the normal range of 0.6-1.2.

  • What association is made to remember the normal range for glucose in the video?

    -The association made for glucose is thinking of energy declining during elderly years, specifically when individuals are 70-100 years old, which corresponds to the normal range of 70-100.

  • How is the normal range for calcium remembered in the video?

    -The normal range for calcium is remembered by thinking of a gallon of milk weighing about 8.5 pounds and adding 2% milk to get the range of 8.5-10.5.

  • What mnemonic is used for chloride in the video?

    -The mnemonic for chloride is associating it with chlorine and a hot tub, using the average temperature of 95-105 degrees Fahrenheit to remember the normal range of 95-105.

  • How does the video suggest remembering the normal range for bicarbonate?

    -The video suggests remembering the normal range for bicarbonate by thinking of carbonation and a 12 pack of soda, multiplying by 2 to get the range of about 23-29.

  • What liver function tests are mentioned in the video, and how are they differentiated?

    -The liver function tests mentioned are AST and ALT. They are differentiated using the letters S and L, with AST associated with school hours (9-40) and ALT with work hours (7-60).

  • What is the purpose of the word associations provided in the video for lab values?

    -The word associations are mnemonic devices to help viewers memorize and recall the normal ranges of various lab values more easily.

Outlines
00:00
🧪 Basic Metabolic Panel and Lab Value Memorization Techniques

This paragraph introduces a method to memorize normal lab values for a basic metabolic panel, which includes electrolytes, renal function, and glucose. It uses mnemonic devices such as associating 'OD' in sodium with odd numbers (135-145), the number of bananas in a bunch for potassium (3.5-5), and the concept of bunions and digits for BUN (5-20). Creatinine is remembered with 'nine' as a midpoint (0.6-1.2), glucose with energy decline in the elderly (70-100), calcium with the weight of milk (8.5-10.5), chloride with hot tub temperatures (95-105), and bicarbonate with a 12 pack of soda multiplied by two (23-29). The paragraph emphasizes that normal ranges can vary by lab and location.

05:03
📚 Comprehensive Metabolic Panel and Liver Function Tests

The second paragraph expands on the comprehensive metabolic panel, which includes liver function tests in addition to the basic metabolic panel. It introduces AST and ALT, using the mnemonic 'S' for school hours (9-40) and 'L' for labor hours (7-60) to remember their normal ranges. Alkaline phosphatase is associated with phosphate and 'ate' to remember 80, which is the midpoint of its range (40-120). Bilirubin is remembered with a Reuben sandwich, indicating a normal value of less than 1. Albumin, a liver-produced protein, is associated with protein shakes and ingredients to remember its range (3.4-5.4). The paragraph concludes with a recap of the mnemonics for these liver function tests.

10:06
🩸 Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Overview

This paragraph covers the components of a complete blood count (CBC), including white blood cell count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelet count, along with their mnemonics. White blood cells are associated with the phrase 'Wanna Buy a Car' for their range (5,000-10,000). Red blood cells are remembered with the volume of blood in the human body (4.5-5.5). Hemoglobin is linked to breaths per minute (12-18 for average, 12-16 for females, 14-18 for males). Hematocrit is remembered with a midlife crisis age range (37-50%, with gender-specific ranges). Platelets are associated with the cost of China plates (150,000-400,000). The paragraph also discusses arterial blood gas (ABG) values, using the word 'pH' to remember its normal value (7.35-7.45), the numbers after the decimal in pH for pCO2 (35-45), and a 12 pack of soda multiplied by two for bicarbonate (22-26).

🩹 Coagulation Studies and Memorization Tips

The final paragraph discusses coagulation studies, which assess the blood's ability to clot. It provides mnemonics for INR, PT, and PTT, using the letter 'I' to remember the normal range of INR being less than 1. PT is associated with the number ten, indicating its normal range (10-12 seconds), while PTT uses the double 'T' to represent ten plus twenty or thirty, giving its range (30-40 seconds). The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to like, comment, and subscribe for more medical topics, and to check the description for notes and tables.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
A blood test that measures basic electrolytes, renal function, and glucose. In the video, it is described as assessing elements such as sodium, potassium, BUN, creatinine, glucose, calcium, chloride, and bicarbonate, with mnemonic devices to remember their normal ranges.
💡Sodium
An essential electrolyte that helps regulate water balance and nerve function. The video uses the letters 'OD' in 'sodium' to remember odd numbers, specifically 135-145, which represents the normal range for sodium levels.
💡Potassium
A key electrolyte involved in nerve function and muscle contraction. The video associates potassium with bananas, typically found in bunches of 3-5, to help remember the normal range of 3.5-5.
💡BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)
A measurement of nitrogen in the blood that comes from the waste product urea, indicating kidney function. The video uses the word 'bun' to recall 'bunion,' relating to the 20 digits on hands and feet, representing the normal range of 5-20.
💡Creatinine
A waste product from muscle metabolism, used to assess kidney function. The mnemonic 'nine' in creatinine is used in the video to remember the normal range, centered around 0.9 within 0.6-1.2.
💡Glucose
A simple sugar and key source of energy in the body. The video suggests thinking of energy levels in elderly individuals (70-100 years old) to remember the normal glucose range of 70-100.
💡Calcium
A mineral important for bone health, muscle function, and nerve signaling. The video uses the weight of a gallon of milk (8.5 pounds) plus 2% milk to remember the normal range of 8.5-10.5.
💡Chloride
An electrolyte that helps maintain fluid balance and acid-base balance. The video associates chloride with chlorine in hot tubs, which typically have temperatures of 95-105°F, mirroring the normal range of chloride levels.
💡Bicarbonate
A form of carbon dioxide transported in the blood, important for maintaining pH balance. In the video, bicarbonate is linked to carbonation in a 12-pack of soda multiplied by 2, giving a normal range of 23-29.
💡AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
An enzyme found in the liver and heart, used to assess liver function. The video uses the letter 'S' in AST to remember 'school' hours (9am-4pm), equating to the normal range of 9-40.
Highlights

Introduction to an easy method for remembering normal lab ranges.

Use the mnemonic 'OD' for sodium to remember the range 135-145.

Potassium's normal range is 3.5-5, associated with the number of bananas in a bunch.

BUN's normal range is 5-20, using the mnemonic of bunion and the number of digits on the human body.

Creatinine's normal range is 0.6-1.2, with 'nine' in creatinine as a mnemonic for the midpoint.

Glucose's normal range is 70-100, associated with the decline in energy during elderly years.

Calcium's normal range is 8.5-10.5, using the weight of a gallon of milk and 2%.

Chloride's normal range is 95-105, using the temperature of a hot tub as a mnemonic.

Bicarbonate's normal range is 23-29, with a mnemonic involving a 12 pack of soda.

AST's normal range is 9-40, using the mnemonic of school hours.

ALT's normal range is 7-60, using the mnemonic of work hours.

Alkaline phosphatase's normal range is 40-120, with 'ate' in phosphate as a mnemonic.

Bilirubin's normal value is less than 1, using the mnemonic of a Reuben sandwich.

Albumin's normal range is 3.4-5.4, associated with the number of ingredients in a protein shake.

White blood cell count's normal range is 5,000-10,000, using the mnemonic of buying a car.

Red blood cell count's normal range is 4.5-5.5, associated with the volume of blood in the human body.

Hemoglobin's normal range is 12-18, with a differentiation for males and females.

Hematocrit's normal range is 37-50%, using the mnemonic of a midlife crisis.

Platelet count's normal range is 150,000-400,000, using the cost of China plates as a mnemonic.

Arterial blood gas (ABG) provides information on a patient's acid-base status.

Coagulation studies indicate the blood's ability to clot and the time it takes to clot.

Transcripts

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