Memorize lab values?

[Perzian]

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I was told that it's a good idea to memorize lab values so that you don't waste time referring to the table...

I was wondering how many times you actually had to refer to the table...?

Is it worth memorizing?

Thanks

 

[Mossjoh]

No way! Thats why the table is there. I have a general idea of what is normal, but I'll be referring to the table I promise you.

 

[musicman1991]

Lab values aren't as important for Step 1. I had to look at the table a lot. you don't get a good sense of lab values until you hit the clinics. For Step 2 I only looked up a few (Calcium). Or when it was borderline high.

 

[mpp]

No, don't memorize lab values. You'll look at that table only rarely and it doesn't take much time at all.

 

[Stinger86]

Knowing blood lab values is useful (such as hct, mcv, wbc differentials) as that will really help you blow through the heme questions, thus freeing up more time. Memorizing any other kind of lab value is very, very low yield.

 

[StringBean]

I actually printed up the lab value page so that I can refer to it as I study, that way I'll be used to where everything is when I take the exam... less time trying to find what I'm looking for! Just an idea! 🙂

~Bean

 

[Ceez]

On Q-bank, I've been using the "Find" function on my browser to scroll down to the lab value I need (For example, I would type in "prolactin" to scroll to the normal value).

However, I may skip doing this during the real exam in order to avoid any unnecessary suspicion from the proctors.

 

[DrQuinn]

Dont' waste brain cells memorizing it. As you become a third year, you'll know that a WBC count of 40 is high and that an MCV of 120 is high, a bili of 8 is high, etc. It honestly doesn't take that much time to look it up, and what if you thought you memorized it but memorized it wrong?! All the more reason not to memorize lab values... like... EVER.

Q, DO