Fundamentals of Nursing and Basic Patient Care
What to master
The foundation layer is the nursing process (ADPIE) plus the ability to prioritise. Examiners test whether you assess before you intervene, whether you recognise deterioration, and whether you apply basic safety science: hand hygiene, fall prevention, pressure-injury risk, correct body mechanics, intake/output and vital-sign interpretation.
Know the normal parameters cold (adult respiratory rate 12–20, SpO2 ≥94% on room air, urine output ≥0.5 mL/kg/hr) and understand why each matters. Understand medical asepsis versus surgical asepsis, the purpose of a sterile field, and how to maintain it. Understand mobility and immobility consequences: atelectasis, DVT, constipation, pressure injury, orthostatic hypotension.
Traps in questions
- "First action" vs "best action." If the stem offers an assessment option and an intervention option, and the patient is stable, assessment wins. If the patient is unstable, rescue wins.
- Maslow versus ABC. Airway, breathing, circulation always outrank psychosocial needs, even when the psychosocial option sounds more "nursing."
- Delegation. Unlicensed assistive personnel can measure and report, but cannot assess, teach, evaluate, or handle unstable patients.
- Documentation verbs. "Documented" is never the answer when the patient is deteriorating; you intervene, then document.
- Options that delay help ("wait and re-check in 30 minutes") are almost always wrong in an unstable patient.
Worked example
A 72-hour postoperative patient becomes restless and confused. Options: (a) reorient the patient, (b) apply wrist restraints, (c) check oxygen saturation and vital signs, (d) document the behaviour. New confusion after surgery suggests hypoxia, sepsis, hypoperfusion, or opioid excess - all physiological. Choose (c); reorientation and documentation follow assessment, and restraints require a physician order plus less restrictive alternatives first.
Rule of thumb
Assess before you act, ABC before comfort, and escalate before you repeat.