Haryana BSEH Senior Secondary NSQF Healthcare key terms

The group of professionals, including doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, pharmacists and support staff, who share responsibility for a patient's care and coordinate their work to keep treatment safe and continuous.

A way of working in which staff from different professions plan and deliver care together, sharing information and decisions so that the patient receives consistent treatment from every member of the team.

The defined line of authority that shows whom a worker reports to and from whom instructions are taken, ensuring problems are escalated to the right senior person without delay or confusion.

The tasks and decisions a health worker is trained, authorised and permitted to perform in their role. Working outside it can endanger patients and exposes the worker to legal and disciplinary consequences.

The standard reference posture in which a person stands upright, faces forward, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward. Body directions and positions are described as if the patient is in this stance.

Imaginary flat surfaces used to divide the body for description: sagittal (left and right), coronal or frontal (front and back) and transverse (upper and lower). They help staff describe locations and scan images accurately.

The body's ability to keep internal conditions such as temperature, fluid balance, blood glucose and pH within narrow limits despite changes outside. Many vital sign measurements are used to check whether this balance is maintained.

The system of word roots, prefixes and suffixes used in health records and clinical speech, for example 'bradycardia' meaning slow heart rate. Knowing it allows accurate reading, recording and reporting of patient information.

The practice of avoiding error-prone shortened forms in clinical records, such as 'U' for unit or 'qd' for daily, and writing terms in full. This prevents misreading that could lead to wrong doses or treatment.

An infection a patient develops during or shortly after receiving care in a health facility, which was not present or incubating on arrival. It is reduced by hand hygiene, asepsis and safe waste handling.

The sequence by which infection spreads: a pathogen, a reservoir, a way out, a means of transmission, a way in and a susceptible host. Breaking any one link, such as by hand hygiene, stops transmission.

Basic infection control measures applied to every patient regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, gowns, eye protection, safe sharps handling and correct cleaning of equipment and linen.

The set of practices that keep equipment, wounds and the environment free of disease-causing microorganisms. Medical asepsis reduces germs; surgical asepsis aims to create a sterile field for invasive procedures.

Cleaning hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based rub at the moments when germs are most likely to spread, especially before patient contact, before clean procedures, after body fluid exposure and after touching surroundings.

The World Health Organization's five points for hand cleaning: before touching a patient, before a clean procedure, after body fluid exposure risk, after touching a patient, and after touching patient surroundings.

Wearable barriers such as gloves, gowns, masks, goggles and face shields that protect staff and patients from contact with blood, body fluids and airborne particles. It is removed carefully to avoid self-contamination.

A defined work area in which only sterile items and sterile-gloved hands may enter. Anything touching the edge or becoming wet or unsterile is considered contaminated and must be replaced.

Routine self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, grooming and moving about. Staff assess a patient's ability to perform them and give only the help actually needed.

Damage to skin and underlying tissue caused by sustained pressure, often over bony areas in patients who cannot move easily. Prevention includes regular repositioning, skin checks and keeping the skin clean and dry.

Placing and supporting a patient's body in a safe alignment for comfort, breathing, eating or procedures, using pillows and side rails as needed. Correct positioning prevents pressure injury and breathing difficulty.

The core measurements of body temperature, pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure and often oxygen saturation, used to assess how well the body is functioning and to detect deterioration early.

The balance between heat produced and heat lost by the body, normally around 37 degrees Celsius when measured orally. Fever, hypothermia and trends over time are important observations to report.

The rhythmic expansion of an artery each time the heart beats, counted in beats per minute and noted for rate, rhythm and strength. It is commonly checked at the radial or carotid artery.

The force of blood against artery walls, recorded as systolic over diastolic pressure in millimetres of mercury. It reflects heart output and vessel resistance and is affected by position, stress and medication.

The process of noticing changes in a patient's condition, measuring them where possible, and passing the information promptly to the responsible nurse or doctor using a clear, structured format.

A numerical score calculated from vital signs such as breathing rate, oxygen level, blood pressure and consciousness, which rises as a patient deteriorates and triggers a defined escalation response.

The structured transfer of information and responsibility for a patient between staff or shifts, covering identity, condition, treatment, risks and pending tasks, ideally confirmed by the receiver repeating key points.

The legal, confidential collection of a patient's health information, including history, observations, treatment and progress notes, kept accurate, dated, signed and stored securely for continuity of care.

The act of recording care and observations in the patient record at the time it happens, using factual, objective language, correct times and signatures, so that the record is reliable evidence of what was done.

The duty to keep patient information private and share it only with those who need it for care, with the patient's consent or where the law requires disclosure. Breaches damage trust and may be unlawful.

A patient's voluntary agreement to examination or treatment after receiving clear information about the purpose, benefits, risks and alternatives. It must be obtained from someone with capacity, or a lawful representative.

Respecting a person's worth during care by protecting privacy, knocking before entering, covering the body, using their preferred name and involving them in decisions about their own treatment and daily routines.

Purposeful conversation that builds trust and understanding, using open questions, active listening, plain language and reflection, while avoiding judgement, jargon and false reassurance.

Giving full attention to a speaker, observing body language and tone, and checking understanding by summarising or asking clarifying questions, so the patient feels heard and information is captured accurately.

Immediate, temporary help given to an ill or injured person before professional care arrives, aimed at preserving life, preventing worsening and promoting recovery, within the helper's training and safety limits.

Chest compressions, with rescue breaths where trained and safe, used when a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, to keep blood and oxygen circulating until advanced help is available.

A stable side-lying posture for an unconscious person who is breathing, which keeps the airway open and allows fluids to drain from the mouth while help is on the way.

Any waste generated during diagnosis, treatment or immunisation of humans or animals that may be infectious or hazardous, such as used sharps, soiled dressings, blood bags and discarded medicines, requiring colour-coded segregation.

Sorting waste at the point of generation into the correct colour-coded container so each category reaches the right treatment or disposal route, which reduces infection risk and protects waste handlers.

A puncture-resistant, leak-proof, clearly labelled box for used needles, blades and other sharp items, filled only to the marked line and closed securely before removal for safe disposal.

An accidental piercing of the skin by a used needle or sharp, carrying risk of bloodborne infection. The area is washed, the injury reported immediately and post-exposure assessment and prophylaxis arranged.

Recording any unexpected event, near miss, injury or error through the facility's system without blame, so that causes are investigated and practice improved to protect patients and staff.

Designing tasks, equipment and posture to fit the worker, such as adjusting bed height and using hoists and correct lifting technique, in order to reduce strain and musculoskeletal injury during patient handling.

A scheme in which a person or employer pays regular premiums so that the insurer covers part or all of agreed medical costs. Schemes such as Ayushman Bharat extend cover to eligible low-income families.

Identifying a health need and building a small venture around it, such as a home-care service, diagnostic collection point or medical supplies shop, combining opportunity assessment, planning, funding and risk-taking.

The possible routes of progression in a health career, from assistant or technician roles through supervision and specialisation to management, often advanced by further certification and recognised experience.

Supervised time spent in a real health facility where a learner practises skills under qualified staff, builds confidence and professional behaviour, and records evidence of competence for assessment.

Evaluation of a learner's collected evidence, such as logbooks, case records, supervisor sign-offs and reflections, to judge whether practical competencies and professional conduct have been achieved.

Regularly reviewing one's own actions and experiences to identify what went well, what to improve and what to learn next, often written in a diary that supports portfolio evidence and continuing professional growth.