American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

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What is the normal range for prothrombin time (PT)?

9-14 seconds
11-16 seconds
12-18 seconds
8-12 seconds

The correct answer is: 11-16 seconds

The normal range for prothrombin time (PT) is typically considered to be between 11-16 seconds. Prothrombin time measures how long it takes for blood to clot, specifically assessing the extrinsic and common pathway of coagulation. This range can vary slightly between different laboratories due to variations in testing methods and reagents, but the value of 11-16 seconds is widely accepted in clinical practice. Options outside this range reflect either a more narrow (9-14 seconds or 8-12 seconds) or wider (12-18 seconds) assessment that may not accurately represent the typical coagulation status in healthy individuals. Therefore, 11-16 seconds is optimal for determining whether a patient’s clotting factors are functioning correctly, and it is essential for monitoring patients on anticoagulant therapy or those with clotting disorders.