Registered Nurse RN

Registered Nurse, Free Care Plans, Free NCLEX Review, Nurse Salary, and much more. Join the nursing revolution.

  • RN
    • Nursing Clinical Skills
  • Nursing Videos
  • Blog
  • Nursing School
  • Nursing Care Plans
  • Nursing Quizzes
  • Nursing
  • Nursing Jobs
  • NCLEX Review
  • Store

Complete Blood Count (CBC) NCLEX Review

Complete blood count (CBC) NCLEX review for nursing students!

As a nursing student or nurse you will want to be very familiar with the complete blood count. The complete blood count is also called a CBC for short.

Why is it so important to know about a CBC? This blood test is a very common test ordered on a patient in the hospital. Seriously, almost every patient that walks through the hospital doors will have a CBC. This is because it tells us about the overall health of the patient. For example, it can tell us if they have an infection, hemorrhage (blood loss), anemia, blood cancer etc.

For the NCLEX or nursing lecture exams, you want to know three things about the CBC:

  • What the CBC assesses
  • What each area represents that the CBC assesses
  • Normal lab value ranges for each part of the CBC

Exam questions will majorly test you are the normal lab value ranges, and they will give you values that are noticeably abnormal…rather than close to normal. Therefore, if you have the approximate lab range memorized you will be able to recognize the abnormal range. NOTE: Normal lab value ranges vary among laboratories. For example, one lab may say a normal range is 12.5-20.5….while another one may say 10.5-22.5. Therefore, be aware of that when assessing results.

When you work as a nurse you will be able to see the patient’s lab result along with the normal lab ranges (see picture below).

The goal of this review is to help you know the main concepts about the CBC for exams and dive a little deeper into the other things you will see on a CBC report so you are familiar with it…like the RBC indices and WBC differential etc.

See more about labs to know for NCLEX.

How is a CBC collected?

It’s collected through a blood draw. Therefore, blood is removed from a vein and sent to the lab. The lab will analyze the results and send them back to you.

Example of CBC results:cbc, labs to know for nclex, nursing, complete blood count

cbc, labs to know for nclex, nursing, complete blood count

WBC (White Blood Cells): 5,000–10,000

Main function of the WBC is to fight infection

Leukopenia: low WBC count

  • Causes: autoimmune diseases, medications (immunosuppressive, mental health medications, chemo), severe illness sepsis, cancers, lupus, HIV/AID, radiation therapy

Leukocytosis: high WBC count

  • Causes: infection, inflammation, leukemia, extreme stress, medication side effects etc.
  • WBC w/ differential: looks at the 5 types of WBCs
    • Monocytes (4-13%): fights infection and foreign substances
    • Eosinophils (1-5%): plays a role in the allergic response and parasite infections
    • Neutrophils (40-70%): fights bacterial infections
    • Basophils (0.1-2%): plays a role in inflammatory conditions and allergy response
    • Lymphocytes (20-40%): fights viral infections

RBC (Red Blood Cells): 4.5-5.5 million…also called erythrocytes or red blood corpuscles

Main function of the RBC is to transport oxygen throughout the body and deliver carbon dioxide to the lungs to be exhaled….helps detect anemia, hemorrhage etc.

Low red blood count is called anemia.

High red blood count is called polycythemia. (blood cancer…bone marrow making too many RBCs)

  • Hemoglobin: protein on the RBC that helps carry oxygen in the body
    • 12–16 g/dL (women)
    • 14–18 g/dL (men)
  • Hematocrit: amount of red blood cells compared to the total blood volume
    • 37 – 47% (women)
    • 42 – 52% (men)

 

  • Red blood cell indices (indices is the plural form for index): This is a further look at the Red Blood Cell. It tells us the size of the RBCs and specifics about the hemoglobin, which is helpful with anemia (iron deficiency, vitamin b 12 or folate etc.).
    • Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV): size of the red blood cell (80-100 femtoliters…fl)
    • Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH): amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cell (27-33 picograms per cell…pg)
    • Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC): concentration of hemoglobin in a RBC…(33-36 grams per deciliter)
  • Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW)…(11-15%): measure the variation of red blood cell size.

PLT (Platelets):  150,000–400,000

Main function is to help with clotting when we’re bleeding

MPV: mean platelet volume (7-10 femtoliters…fl): average size of the platelets in the blood

Thrombocytopenia: low platelet count

  • risk for bleeding out (causes: bone marrow issues, chemo, viral infection)

Thrombocytosis: high platelet count

  • risk for clotting (causes leukemia, inflammation diseases, acute blood loss)

If results on the CBC are abnormal a peripheral smear may be ordered. This will look at the morphology (this means the form or the shape of the cell).

Now test your knowledge on the CBC with this Complete Blood Count NCLEX Questions quiz.

References:

Complete Blood Count (CBC): MedlinePlus Lab Test Information. Retrieved 11 October 2019, from https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/complete-blood-count-cbc/

Please Share:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
Nursing Gear

RSS Latest YouTube Videos

  • Flexion and Extension Anatomy: Shoulder, Hip, Forearm, Neck, Leg, Thumb, Wrist, Spine, Finger
  • Recap a Needle Using the One-Hand Scoop Technique Nursing Skill | Medication Administration
  • Elevation and Depression Anatomy Body Movement Terms (Mandible & Scapula)
  • Car Seat Safety Teaching: Nursing Care & Discharge Pediatric Maternity Nurse NCLEX Review

Recent Posts

  • Benzodiazepines (Anxiolytic and Sedative-Hypnotic) NCLEX Nursing Questions Quiz
  • Flexion and Extension
  • Flexion and Extension Anatomy Quiz
  • One-Hand Scoop Technique

Disclosure and Privacy Policy

This website provides entertainment value only, not medical advice or nursing protocols. We strive for 100% accuracy, but nursing procedures and state laws are constantly changing. By accessing any content on this site or its related media channels, you agree never to hold us liable for damages, harm, loss, or misinformation. See our full disclosure and privacy policy. Copyright Notice: Do not copy this site, articles, images, or its contents without permission.

Important Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook Nursing
  • Instagram Nursing
  • Twitter Nursing
  • YouTube Nursing

Get Free Email Updates:

Enter your email address below and hit "Submit" to receive free email updates and nursing tips.

Copyright © 2021 RegisteredNurseRN.com. All Rights Reserved.