MOHAP Nursing Exam key terms

Practices that keep pathogens away from a susceptible site. Medical asepsis reduces organism transfer through hand hygiene and clean technique, while surgical asepsis uses sterile gloves, drapes, and equipment to keep a field free of all microorganisms.

A baseline set of infection-control actions applied to every patient regardless of diagnosis. They include hand hygiene, gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection, safe sharps handling, and safe waste disposal, and they are used whenever contact with blood or body fluids is possible.

Barrier items worn to block exposure to infectious material, including gloves, gown, mask, respirator, goggles, and face shield. The choice of items depends on the anticipated task and the route of transmission, and equipment must be removed in the correct order to avoid self-contamination.

Extra precautions added to standard precautions for specific pathogens, grouped by route: contact (e.g., wound infections, scabies), droplet (e.g., influenza, pertussis), and airborne (e.g., tuberculosis, measles). Each type dictates room placement, mask type, and visitor rules.

A transmission-based precaution for organisms that stay suspended in air and travel on small particles over long distances. It requires a negative-pressure room with high-efficiency air exchange and a fit-tested N95 or equivalent respirator for staff entering the room.

Accidental puncture of skin by a used needle or sharp. Immediate steps are to wash the site with soap and water, report at once, and seek post-exposure assessment, including source testing and prophylaxis such as hepatitis B immunoglobulin or HIV post-exposure medication when indicated.

A rigid, puncture-resistant, closable container used to discard needles, blades, and other contaminated sharps. It must be filled only to the marked line, kept upright and near the point of use, and replaced before it overfills to prevent injury.

Cleaning hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based rub at defined moments such as before patient contact, before a clean task, after body-fluid exposure, after contact, and after touching surroundings. It is the single most effective measure for preventing healthcare-associated infection.

An infection a patient acquires during care that was not present or incubating on arrival. Common examples include catheter-associated urinary infection, central line bloodstream infection, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and surgical site infection, many of which are preventable with bundles.

An area prepared with sterile drapes and equipment that must stay free of microorganisms. Only sterile items touch it, staff keep their hands above waist level and do not turn away, and any item that touches a non-sterile surface is considered contaminated.

A safety check applied before giving any drug: right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation. Many facilities add right reason and right to refuse, and two identifiers must be used to confirm the patient.

A drug that carries a heightened risk of serious harm when given in error, such as insulin, heparin, opioids, and concentrated electrolytes. Safeguards include independent double-checks, clear labeling, limited access, and standardized concentrations and infusion protocols.

A ratio comparing the dose that produces toxicity with the dose that produces the desired effect. A narrow index, as with digoxin, warfarin, lithium, and aminoglycosides, means small changes in blood level can cause harm, so drug levels and signs of toxicity are monitored closely.

A harmful or unintended response to a medicine given at a normal dose. It ranges from predictable side effects to allergic reactions and organ damage, and suspected reactions must be documented, reported, and communicated to the prescriber.

A severe, rapidly progressing allergic reaction marked by airway swelling, bronchospasm, falling blood pressure, and rash. First-line treatment is intramuscular adrenaline given promptly, along with airway support, oxygen, fluids, and continuous monitoring.

A formal process of comparing a patient's full medication list across transitions of care, such as admission, transfer, and discharge. It detects omissions, duplications, and dosing errors, and it is a core defense against preventable medication harm.

A patient's voluntary agreement to a procedure after receiving and understanding information about its purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives. The provider obtains consent, the nurse verifies understanding and witnesses the signature, and the patient may withdraw consent at any time.

The ethical principle that a competent person has the right to make decisions about their own care, including refusing treatment. It obligates staff to respect informed choice, support advance decisions, and avoid coercion even when they disagree with the choice.

Two linked ethical duties: beneficence means acting for the patient's good, while non-maleficence means avoiding harm. When interventions carry risk, nurses weigh likely benefit against potential harm and choose the least harmful effective option.

The duty to protect a patient's health information from unauthorized disclosure. It applies to conversations, records, and images, allows sharing only with those involved in care or as required by law, and is reinforced by data protection rules.

Acting to protect a patient's rights, safety, and preferences, especially when the patient cannot speak for themselves. It includes raising concerns about unsafe care, ensuring information is understood, and escalating through proper channels.

The legal and professional obligation to provide care that meets accepted standards and to avoid foreseeable harm. Breach of this duty, when it causes injury, forms the basis of a negligence claim, so accurate documentation and safe practice matter.

The range of tasks and responsibilities a nurse is legally and professionally permitted to perform, set by licensure, regulation, and policy. Working outside it, such as delegating a task to an unqualified person, creates risk for patients and the nurse.

Documenting an unexpected event, near miss, or error through the facility system so causes can be analyzed and prevented. Reports are not part of the medical record, are not used to blame individuals, and are completed promptly and factually.

Assigning a task to another team member while retaining accountability for the patient outcome. The nurse considers the five rights of delegation, the delegate's competence, and the stability of the patient, and never delegates assessment, planning, or judgment.

Core measurements of body function: temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and often oxygen saturation and pain. Trends matter more than single readings, and abnormal values trigger reassessment and escalation.

A numeric score combining vital signs to flag a patient who is deteriorating. Rising scores trigger defined responses, from increased observation to urgent clinician review or rapid response activation, aiming to catch decline before arrest.

A structured evaluation of pain using the patient's report, location, quality, timing, and impact, with validated scales chosen for age and ability. Regular reassessment after intervention shows whether treatment worked and guides adjustment.

Localized damage to skin and underlying tissue caused by sustained pressure, often over bony areas, plus shear and friction. Prevention uses risk assessment, scheduled repositioning, support surfaces, moisture control, and adequate nutrition.

A scored tool that estimates a patient's risk of pressure injury using six factors: sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction or shear. Lower scores mean higher risk and guide the intensity of preventive measures.

A structured screen for factors that make a patient likely to fall, such as medications, mobility, cognition, continence, and prior falls. High-risk patients receive bed alarms, low beds, nonslip footwear, call-light teaching, and frequent rounding.

Actions to keep the passage from mouth to lungs open and protected, starting with positioning, suctioning, and airway adjuncts. It includes recognizing obstruction, supporting ventilation, and escalating to advanced airway placement when breathing is inadequate.

Emergency care for a person in cardiac arrest, combining high-quality chest compressions, rescue breaths, early defibrillation, and advanced life support. Compressions are delivered at an adequate rate and depth with minimal interruptions until circulation returns or care is stopped.

A group that can be called to the bedside when a patient shows warning signs of deterioration outside critical care. Early activation brings expert assessment and treatment before cardiac arrest, and nurses are expected to call without hesitation.

Sorting patients by urgency so the sickest are treated first when demand exceeds resources. It relies on brief structured assessment of airway, breathing, circulation, and key symptoms, and it is reassessed because a patient's priority can change.

A pregnancy disorder marked by new high blood pressure after 20 weeks with protein in urine or signs of organ involvement, such as headache, visual change, or liver pain. It can progress to seizures and requires close monitoring and timely delivery.

Excessive bleeding after birth, commonly defined as more than 500 mL after vaginal delivery or 1000 mL after cesarean, or any bleeding causing instability. Causes include uterine atony, retained tissue, trauma, and clotting problems, and treatment starts with uterine massage and uterotonics.

A dangerous effect of magnesium therapy for preeclampsia or preterm labour, shown by loss of deep tendon reflexes, low respiratory rate, and reduced urine output. The antidote is intravenous calcium gluconate, given while the infusion is stopped and the patient is monitored.

A quick assessment done at one and five minutes after birth, scoring heart rate, breathing effort, muscle tone, reflex response, and colour from 0 to 2 each. It summarizes the newborn's condition and response to resuscitation but does not predict long-term outcome.

Keeping a newborn warm because infants lose heat quickly and cannot shiver effectively. Measures include drying at birth, skin-to-skin contact, warm blankets, hats, and delayed bathing, with monitoring for cold stress and low blood sugar.

Yellow discoloration of a newborn's skin and eyes from accumulated bilirubin. It is common and often harmless but can become dangerous if levels rise fast, so babies are screened and treated with phototherapy or exchange transfusion when indicated.

A track-and-trigger tool that adjusts for age-specific normal ranges of breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and behaviour. It helps nurses recognize a deteriorating child earlier than vital signs alone would suggest.

A deficit of body water and electrolytes, often from vomiting or diarrhoea, assessed by weight change, mucous membranes, tears, skin turgor, capillary refill, and urine output. Oral rehydration is preferred when possible, with intravenous fluids for severe cases.

Maintaining the right volume and composition of body fluids. Nurses assess intake and output, daily weight, thirst, skin turgor, and laboratory values, and they watch for overload or deficit during intravenous therapy.

A condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, causing breathlessness, fatigue, swelling, and fluid retention. Management includes diuretics, rate control, afterload reduction, daily weights, and salt and fluid guidance.

A chronic disorder of high blood glucose caused by absent or ineffective insulin. Care focuses on medication, glucose monitoring, diet, activity, foot checks, and recognition of hypoglycaemia and long-term complications.

Abnormally low blood glucose that can cause sweating, tremor, confusion, and seizures. A conscious patient is given fast-acting oral carbohydrate and retested, while an unconscious patient needs intravenous glucose or glucagon without delay.

A structured description of a patient's appearance, behaviour, mood, speech, thought content, perception, cognition, insight, and judgment. It is used to establish a baseline, detect risk, and track change over time.

A direct inquiry into thoughts of self-harm, plan, intent, means, and protective factors, done with empathy and without judgment. High risk calls for immediate safety measures, close observation, removal of hazards, and urgent psychiatric referral.

Purposeful interaction that supports a patient's expression and understanding, using open questions, active listening, reflection, and silence. It avoids advice-giving, false reassurance, and judgment, and it builds trust in mental health settings.

First-contact, accessible, continuous care focused on promotion, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for individuals and families. It is the foundation of a health system and includes screening, immunization, and chronic disease follow-up.

Actions that help people improve and protect their health, such as education, screening, vaccination, and policy change. It works on individual behaviour and on the environments and conditions that shape health.

A disease that must be reported to public health authorities so outbreaks can be detected and controlled. Reporting timelines and lists vary by country, and nurses play a key role in prompt notification.

An infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, spread by airborne droplets and most often affecting the lungs. Control relies on early detection, directly observed treatment, contact tracing, and airborne isolation of infectious cases.