HSSC Staff Nurse key terms

An isotonic intravenous solution whose salt concentration matches body plasma, used to replace fluid and electrolytes in dehydration, shock and blood loss without shifting water between compartments.

The speed at which fluid is delivered into a vein, usually expressed in drops per minute or millilitres per hour, calculated from prescribed volume and time using the drip factor of the giving set.

A bedside record of all fluid a patient drinks, receives intravenously or by tube, and loses through urine, vomit, stool and drainage, used to judge hydration and renal function over 24 hours.

The state in which fluid taken in equals fluid lost, keeping body water and electrolytes within safe limits; a positive or negative balance signals overload, dehydration or ongoing losses needing correction.

A solution with the same osmotic pressure as body fluids, so cells neither swell nor shrink; examples include 0.9% saline and Ringer lactate, commonly used for resuscitation and maintenance.

Practices that keep wounds, equipment and the clinical environment free of disease-causing microorganisms, including hand hygiene, sterile gloves and disinfection, to prevent hospital-acquired infection during care.

A work area, such as a draped tray or trolley top, kept free of all microorganisms and touched only with sterile gloves or sterile forceps during procedures like catheterisation or dressing.

An infection a patient acquires in hospital that was not present or incubating on admission, often linked to invasive devices, poor hand hygiene or contaminated equipment; also called a healthcare-associated infection.

The core measurements of temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure and often oxygen saturation, recorded to detect deterioration, monitor response to treatment and establish a baseline for comparison.

The difference between the heart rate heard at the apex and the pulse counted at the radial artery in one minute, seen in atrial fibrillation when weak beats fail to reach the periphery.

The force exerted by circulating blood against artery walls, recorded as systolic over diastolic pressure in millimetres of mercury; persistent elevation above normal defines hypertension and raises stroke risk.

A sustained rise in arterial blood pressure, generally at or above 140/90 mmHg on repeated readings, which strains the heart, kidneys, brain and eyes and requires lifestyle change and medication.

Death of heart muscle caused by sudden blockage of a coronary artery, producing crushing chest pain, sweating and breathlessness; an emergency needing rapid oxygen, analgesia and reperfusion therapy.

Chest pain or tightness caused by temporary shortage of blood and oxygen to heart muscle, typically brought on by exertion or stress and relieved by rest or sublingual nitroglycerin.

A drug that lowers blood pressure through actions such as relaxing blood vessels, reducing heart rate or removing excess fluid, requiring monitoring of pressure, pulse and side effects like dizziness.

The first point of contact for curative and preventive care in a rural block, staffed by medical officers and nurses, providing outpatient care, immunisation, maternal services and referral to higher facilities.

The most peripheral health facility, serving a few thousand rural people, staffed by an auxiliary nurse midwife and health worker who deliver immunisation, antenatal care and health education.

An organised process by which a health worker sends a patient to a higher facility for services beyond local capacity, with a written note and feedback, so that care continues without duplication or delay.

The unbroken series of refrigerated storage and transport steps that keeps vaccines potent from manufacture to injection, with strict temperature monitoring and stock rotation to prevent wastage.

The nationally recommended timetable of vaccines given by age, such as BCG, hepatitis B, oral polio and pentavalent doses in infancy, with boosters later, aimed at early and complete protection.

India's public vaccination programme that delivers free vaccines against major childhood diseases through government facilities and outreach sessions, now including newer vaccines such as rotavirus and pneumococcal conjugate.

Supervision of a woman's health during pregnancy through scheduled check-ups, weight and blood pressure checks, haemoglobin testing, tetanus immunisation and counselling on danger signs and nutrition.

The age of a pregnancy counted in weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period, guiding dating of delivery, screening tests and assessment of fetal growth and maturity.

A pregnancy disorder marked by new high blood pressure and protein in urine after 20 weeks, which can progress to seizures, liver and kidney damage, and requires close monitoring and timely delivery.

The six-week period after childbirth during which the uterus shrinks, lochia is discharged and breastfeeding is established, while the mother is watched for bleeding, infection and mood changes.

Excessive bleeding after birth, conventionally more than 500 ml after vaginal delivery, most often from a poorly contracted uterus; a leading cause of maternal death needing urgent massage, drugs and fluids.

The vaginal discharge of blood, mucus and tissue after childbirth, changing from red to brown to whitish over weeks; foul smell or sudden return of red bleeding suggests infection or retained tissue.

A quick rating of a newborn at one and five minutes after birth based on heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflex response and colour, each scored 0 to 2, to guide resuscitation.

Yellowing of a newborn's skin and eyes from raised bilirubin, common in the first week; severe or early jaundice needs phototherapy and investigation to prevent brain damage.

The weight of a baby recorded immediately after delivery; below 2.5 kg is low birth weight and raises risks of infection, feeding difficulty and delayed development, so such infants need warmth and close follow-up.

A measured mixture of clean water, salt and glucose given by mouth to replace fluid lost in diarrhoea; early use prevents dehydration and is a key child-survival measure.

Purposeful use of words, silence, listening and open questions by a nurse to help a patient express feelings, understand care and build trust, while keeping boundaries and confidentiality.

A structured assessment of appearance, behaviour, speech, mood, thought content, perception, cognition and insight, used to describe a patient's psychological state and detect disorders such as psychosis or depression.

A fixed false belief held firmly despite clear evidence to the contrary and not shared by the person's culture, such as believing one is being watched or poisoned, often seen in psychotic illness.

A sensory perception, such as hearing voices or seeing things, that occurs without any external stimulus and feels real to the person, commonly reported in schizophrenia and severe mood disorders.

A patient's voluntary agreement to a procedure or research after receiving clear information about its purpose, benefits, risks and alternatives, documented before care and respecting the right to refuse.

The ethical and legal duty to keep a patient's personal and health information private, sharing it only with those involved in care or as required by law, safeguarding trust and dignity.