N&MC Ghana Exam flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Five-step nursing process

A cyclic method-assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation-used to organise patient care and revise plans when expected outcomes are not met.

Maslow hierarchy of needs

Five-level model: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualization; lower-level needs generally take priority during acute illness.

WHO five hand hygiene moments

Before patient contact, before aseptic task, after body-fluid exposure risk, after patient contact, and after touching patient surroundings.

Chain of infection links

Six links: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, susceptible host; breaking any one link interrupts transmission.

SBAR handover

Structured communication using Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation to convey concise, safe patient information during clinical handover.

Informed consent elements

Capacity, disclosure, understanding, voluntariness, and authorization; all are required before a competent patient agrees to a procedure.

Negligence four elements

Duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages; the claimant must prove all four to establish professional negligence.

Ghana Act 857

Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013; it establishes councils, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council, with registration and disciplinary functions.

Confidentiality exceptions

Permitted disclosures include patient consent, statutory reporting, court order, and serious public-health risk; only the minimum necessary information is shared.

Scope of practice

The legal and professional boundaries defining activities that a nurse or midwife is trained, authorized, and competent to perform.

Cardiac output formula

Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by stroke volume; normal adult resting output is about 4 to 8 litres per minute.

Mean arterial pressure formula

MAP = (systolic BP + 2 × diastolic BP) ÷ 3; a common adult resuscitation target is at least 65 mmHg.

Anion gap formula

Anion gap = sodium − (chloride + bicarbonate); normal is about 8–12 mmol/L, and elevation suggests high-anion-gap metabolic acidosis.

Hypoglycemia treatment

If conscious and able to swallow, give 15 g fast-acting carbohydrate and recheck glucose in 15 minutes; if unconscious, give IV dextrose or glucagon.

ABCDE primary survey

Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure; life-threatening problems are identified and managed in that sequence during emergency assessment.

GTPAL obstetric history

Gravida, term births, preterm births, abortions, and living children; it summarises a woman's total pregnancies and outcomes.

Naegele's rule

Estimated delivery date = first day of last menstrual period + 7 days − 3 months + 1 year, adjusted for cycle length.

Fetal heart rate baseline

Normal baseline is 110–160 beats per minute; variability, accelerations, and decelerations are assessed to interpret fetal status.

Preeclampsia severe features

Blood pressure at least 160/110, platelets below 100,000, raised liver enzymes, creatinine above 1.1 mg/dL, pulmonary oedema, or cerebral/visual symptoms.

Magnesium sulfate antidote

Calcium gluconate is the antidote; toxicity signs include loss of deep tendon reflexes, respiratory depression, and oliguria.

APGAR score

Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration; each scored 0–2 at 1 and 5 minutes, with 7–10 generally normal.

ORS for some dehydration

Give 75 mL/kg over 4 hours, continue breastfeeding, and add zinc 10–20 mg daily for 10–14 days in childhood diarrhoea.

Severe dehydration signs

Lethargy or unconsciousness, sunken eyes, very slow skin pinch, and inability to drink; urgent IV rehydration is required.

Ghana infant immunization schedule

BCG and OPV0 at birth; Penta, PCV, and OPV at 6, 10, and 14 weeks; measles-rubella at 9 and 18 months; yellow fever at 9 months.

Three levels of prevention

Primary prevents disease before onset, secondary detects and treats early, and tertiary limits disability and supports rehabilitation.

Incidence versus prevalence

Incidence counts new cases in a population at risk over time; prevalence counts all existing cases at a point or over a period.

Vaccine cold chain

Most vaccines are kept at 2–8°C; freeze-sensitive vaccines such as DTP, hepatitis B, and PCV must not be frozen.

Community diagnosis steps

Collect demographic and epidemiological data, identify and prioritise problems, plan, implement, and evaluate community health action.

Depression core symptoms

Depressed mood or loss of interest/pleasure for at least two weeks, with functional impairment and additional symptoms such as sleep or appetite change.

Suicide risk assessment

Ask directly about ideation, plan, intent, means, previous attempts, and protective factors; asking does not increase suicide risk.

Psychosis features

Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech or behaviour, and impaired reality testing; medical and substance causes must be excluded before treatment.

Therapeutic relationship boundaries

Professional limits protecting trust and safety: maintain confidentiality, avoid self-disclosure, avoid dual relationships, and recognise power imbalance.