ATI Capstone
Content Review:
Fundamentals -
Tips of the Week
Understanding the difference between ATI Assessments
and your Unit Exams:
In nursing school you have been given tests to “examine” how
much you had learned from the specific material that was
theoretically presented to you in lecture, reading, skills labs,
clinical, etc. Your score was based on the 100% scale and
you were probably expected to score anywhere from around
75% to 100% over that material in order to pass.
Now, there is NO WAY that any nursing program can teach
everything there is to know about nursing in a 2 to 4 year
period. Each program has a bit different focus and uses
different textbooks and materials based on their focus.
This is where ATI assessments come in - these assessments
are broad and are used to “assess” what you know in
comparison to the exit exam and ultimately the NCLEX
blueprint. Therefore your score — while still based on the
100% scale — is not looked at in the same way it is a typical
exam. It would be totally unreasonable to expect you to score
75-100% over material that you may have never even seen
before!!
So, when you take the ATI assessments—think of them as a
means to identify areas that you might see on your exit exam
and ultimately NCLEX. Through review and remediation that
you complete, you will be prepared.
Use the tips and strategies (see below) each week in the
modules to help you prepare the content review and
assessment.
Laboratory Values
While lab values vary slightly according to the source,
knowing an average range for the following common lab tests
will be very helpful to you when answering questions.
Sodium 136-145 mEq/L
Potassium 3.5-5.0 mEq/L
Total Calcium 9.0-10.5 mg/dL
Magnesium 1.3-2.1 mg/dL
Phosphorus 3.0 –4.5 mg/dL
BUN 10-20 mg/dL
Creatinine 0.6 – 1.2mg/dL males, 0.5 – 1.1 mg/dL females
Glucose 70 -105 mg/dL
HgbA1c <6.5%
WBC 5,000-10,000/mm3
RBC Men 4.7-6.1 million/mm3, Women 4.2-5.4 million/mm3
Hemoglobin Men 14-18g/100 mL, Women 12-16 g/100 mL
Hematocrit Men 42-52%,Women 37-47%
Platelet 150,000-400,000/mm3
pH 7.35-7.45
pC02 35 to45 mm Hg
p02 80-100 mmHg
HCO3 21-26mmol/L
Normal PT = 11-12.5 sec, Normal INR = 0.7-1.8
(Therapeutic INR 2-3)
Normal PTT = 30-40 sec (Therapeutic PTT 1.5 – 2 x normal
or control values)
Digoxin 0.5 to 2.0ng/mL
Lithium 0.8 to 1.4 mEq/L
Dilantin 10-20 mcg/mL
Theophylline 10 to 20mcg/mL
Latex Allergies:
Note that clients allergic to bananas, apricots, cherries,
grapes, kiwis, passion fruit, avocados, chestnuts, tomatoes,
and/or peaches may experience latex allergies as well.
Order of assessment:
I-inspection
P-palpation
P-percussion
A-auscultation
Except with abdomen it is IAPP-inspect, auscultate, percuss
and palpate.
Cane walking:
C-cane
O-opposite
A-affected
L-leg
Crutch walking:
Remember the phase “step up” when picturing a person going
up stairs with crutches. The good leg goes up first followed by
the crutches and the bad leg. The opposite happens going
down the stairs….OR “up to heaven…down to hell”
Delegation:
RNs DO NOT delegate what they can EAT - evaluate, assess,
teach
Helpful tool to remember Isolation Precautions:
AIRBORNE: "My Chicken Hez TB"
-Measles
-Chicken pox
-Herpes zoster
-TB
Management: neg. pressure room, private room, mask, n-
95 for TB.
DROPLET: "SPIDERMAn"
-Sepsis
-Scarlet Fever
-Strep
-Pertussis
-Pneumonia
-Parvovirus
-Influenza
-Diphtheria
-Epiglottitis
-Rubella
-Mumps
-Adenovirus
Management: Private room/mask
CONTACT: "MRS WEE"
-MRSA
-VRSA
-RSV
-Skin infections (herpes zoster, cutaneous diphtheria,
impetigo, pediculosis, scabies, and staphylococcus)
-Wound infections
-Enteric infections (Clostridium difficile)
-Eye infections (conjunctivitis)
Management: gown, gloves, goggles, private room
Test taking tip: Slow Down!
Reading questions too quickly can lead to errors. When you
are testing, try to slow down a bit so that you do not miss any
key words. Before each and every question try this:
Take a deep breath in then out. Read the stem of the
question, read the choices. REREAD the stem of the
question to make sure to understand what is really being
asked. Then make your selection. Start the process all
over with a deep breath in and out.
Don’t forget to take advantage of your focused review
following each assessment! Reviewing the topics you
miss is KEY to building up your knowledge base.
