AIIMS NORCET cheat sheet

Normal adult vital signs: temperature 36.5–37.5 °C oral, pulse 60–100/min, respiration 12–20/min, blood pressure 120/80 mmHg, SpO2 ≥95% on room air.

Body fluid compartments: total body water ≈60% of body weight; intracellular ≈40%, extracellular ≈20% (interstitial 15%, plasma 5%).

Normal serum electrolytes: Na+ 135–145 mEq/L, K+ 3.5–5.0 mEq/L, Ca2+ 8.5–10.5 mg/dL, Cl− 95–105 mEq/L, HCO3− 22–26 mEq/L.

Stages of wound healing: haemostasis (immediate), inflammatory (0–3 days), proliferative (3–21 days), maturation/remodelling (21 days to 1–2 years).

Pressure ulcer staging: Stage 1 non-blanchable erythema; Stage 2 partial-thickness loss; Stage 3 full-thickness with visible fat; Stage 4 exposed bone/tendon/muscle; unstageable covered by slough/eschar.

Surgical asepsis applies to sterile fields, urinary catheterisation and invasive procedures; medical asepsis covers hand hygiene and environmental cleaning.

Hand hygiene moments (WHO): before patient contact, before aseptic task, after body fluid exposure risk, after patient contact, after contact with patient surroundings.

ABCDE primary survey: Airway with cervical spine control, Breathing, Circulation, Disability (GCS), Exposure with temperature control.

Pharmacology essentials: first-pass metabolism reduces oral bioavailability; zero-order kinetics (phenytoin, ethanol, aspirin at high dose) eliminates a constant amount per unit time.

Myocardial infarction: ST-elevation MI needs reperfusion (PCI within 90 min of first medical contact); MONA-B - morphine, oxygen only if SpO2 <90%, nitrates, aspirin 162–325 mg chewed, beta-blocker.

Heart failure: left-sided failure causes pulmonary oedema, orthopnoea, PND; right-sided failure causes raised JVP, hepatomegaly, dependent oedema. Daily weight gain >1 kg/day or >2 kg in a week signals fluid retention.

COPD: oxygen target SpO2 88–92% in patients at risk of CO2 retention; use controlled low-flow oxygen and monitor for drowsiness and rising PaCO2.

Diabetic ketoacidosis: blood glucose >250 mg/dL, pH <7.3, bicarbonate <18 mEq/L, ketonaemia; treat with isotonic saline first, then insulin infusion 0.1 U/kg/h and potassium replacement once K+ <5.5 mEq/L.

Hypoglycaemia in a conscious patient: 15–20 g fast-acting oral carbohydrate, recheck glucose in 15 minutes; if unconscious, IV dextrose or IM glucagon.

Acute kidney injury staged by KDIGO: Stage 1 creatinine rise ≥0.3 mg/dL in 48 h or urine <0.5 mL/kg/h for 6 h; Stage 3 creatinine ≥3× baseline or urine <0.3 mL/kg/h for 24 h.

Stroke: thrombolysis with alteplase window is up to 4.5 hours from symptom onset; keep blood pressure <185/110 mmHg before thrombolysis; perform NIHSS assessment.

Hepatic encephalopathy is precipitated by GI bleeding, infection, constipation, hypokalaemia and sedatives; lactulose titrated to 2–3 soft stools per day.

Chest drain: keep drainage system below chest level, never clamp a bubbling drain in a pneumothorax, and assess for >200 mL/h blood loss as a trigger to escalate.

Crude birth rate = (live births in a year ÷ mid-year population) × 1000; crude death rate uses deaths in the same formula.

Infant mortality rate = (deaths under 1 year ÷ live births in the same year) × 1000; neonatal mortality uses deaths under 28 days.

Maternal mortality ratio = (maternal deaths ÷ live births) × 100,000; India's target under SDG-3 is below 70 per 100,000 live births.

Levels of prevention: primordial (risk-factor avoidance in population), primary (immunisation, health education), secondary (screening, early diagnosis), tertiary (rehabilitation, disability limitation).

Cold chain: OPV and measles vaccine at −20 °C to −15 °C (OPV) or 2–8 °C (measles); DPT, TT, hepatitis B and BCG at 2–8 °C; never freeze DPT, TT, hepatitis B or PCV.

National Immunisation Schedule (India): BCG, OPV-0 and hepatitis B at birth; pentavalent, OPV and fIPV at 6, 10 and 14 weeks; measles-rubella and JE at 9–12 months; DPT and MR boosters at 16–24 months.

Epidemiological study designs: cohort gives incidence and relative risk; case-control gives odds ratio for rare diseases; cross-sectional gives prevalence.

Sensitivity = true positives ÷ (true positives + false negatives); specificity = true negatives ÷ (true negatives + false positives).

Home visit bag technique: place bag on a clean paper, wash hands, take out only needed articles, and clean the bag before leaving; the bag is not placed on the patient's bed.

Naegele's rule: expected date of delivery = first day of last menstrual period + 7 days − 3 months + 1 year (add 1 year for January–March dates).

Normal labour stages: first stage until full cervical dilatation (nullipara up to ~20 h, multipara ~14 h); second stage from full dilatation to birth (up to 3 h nullipara); third stage delivery of placenta (up to 30 min).

Partograph: plot cervical dilatation, descent, fetal heart rate, contractions, membranes, urine and blood pressure; action line crossing or dilatation <1 cm/h in active phase signals obstructed labour.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension: BP ≥140/90 mmHg after 20 weeks; severe features include ≥160/110 mmHg, platelets <100,000/µL, liver enzymes doubled, creatinine >1.1 mg/dL, pulmonary oedema or cerebral symptoms.

Magnesium sulphate for eclampsia: loading 4 g IV + 10 g IM, maintenance 5 g IM every 4 h; monitor patellar reflex, respiratory rate ≥12/min and urine output ≥30 mL/h; antidote is calcium gluconate 10%.

Postpartum haemorrhage: >500 mL after vaginal birth or >1000 mL after caesarean; first-line uterotonics are oxytocin, then methylergometrine (avoid in hypertension), carboprost (avoid in asthma) and misoprostol.

Fetal heart rate baseline 110–160/min; late decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency, variable decelerations indicate cord compression, early decelerations are head compression.

APGAR is scored at 1 and 5 minutes on Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity and Respiration, each 0–2; score 7–10 is normal.

Contraception: combined oral pills are contraindicated in smokers over 35, migraine with aura, and history of venous thromboembolism; copper-T is effective up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse as emergency contraception.

Weight milestones: birth weight doubles by 5 months, triples by 1 year; formula for 1–12 years is (age in years + 4) × 2 kg.

Developmental milestones: social smile 6 weeks, head holding 3 months, rolling over 5 months, sitting without support 6–8 months, walking 12–15 months, two-word sentences 18–24 months.

Paediatric fluid maintenance by Holliday-Segar: 100 mL/kg for first 10 kg, 50 mL/kg for next 10 kg, 20 mL/kg for each kg thereafter per 24 h.

Normal paediatric respiratory rates: newborn 30–60/min, infant 30–53/min, toddler 22–37/min, preschool 20–28/min, school age 18–25/min.

Dehydration grading: mild <5% loss, moderate 5–10%, severe >10% with lethargy, sunken eyes, delayed capillary refill >3 s and skin pinch >2 s.

Kangaroo mother care: skin-to-skin contact, exclusive breastfeeding and early discharge for low-birth-weight infants; reduces hypothermia and mortality.

Neonatal jaundice: physiological after 24 hours, peaks day 3–5 in term infants; jaundice within 24 hours is always pathological (haemolytic disease, sepsis).

ORAL REHYDRATION: ORS is given 75 mL/kg over 4 hours in Plan B and after each loose stool (50–100 mL for under-2s, 100–200 mL for older children) in Plan A.

Kawasaki disease: fever ≥5 days plus conjunctivitis, oral changes, rash, cervical lymphadenopathy and extremity changes; risk is coronary aneurysm; treat with IVIG and aspirin.

Mental status examination domains: appearance, behaviour, speech, mood and affect, thought form and content, perception, cognition, insight and judgement.

Psychosis features: delusions (fixed false beliefs), hallucinations (perceptions without stimuli, auditory most common in schizophrenia), thought disorder and impaired reality testing.

Antipsychotics: typical drugs (haloperidol, chlorpromazine) act on D2 receptors and cause extrapyramidal symptoms; atypicals (risperidone, olanzapine, clozapine) add 5-HT2A blockade.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: rigidity, hyperthermia >38 °C, autonomic instability, raised creatine kinase; stop the antipsychotic, give dantrolene or bromocriptine and supportive care.

Serotonin syndrome: clonus, hyperreflexia, agitation, hyperthermia after SSRIs or MAOIs; treat by stopping serotonergic drugs and giving benzodiazepines; avoid antipyretics alone.

Lithium therapeutic range 0.6–1.2 mEq/L; toxicity signs include coarse tremor, vomiting, ataxia and seizures; maintain sodium and fluid intake.

Depression screening: PHQ-9 score 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, ≥20 severe; suicidal ideation needs direct risk assessment.

Electroconvulsive therapy: pre-procedure NPO, consent, anaesthesia and muscle relaxant; common transient effects are memory loss and confusion; typically 6–12 sessions.

Defence mechanisms: denial, projection, displacement, rationalisation, sublimation; in alcohol withdrawal use CIWA-Ar scoring and benzodiazepines.

Bloom's taxonomy cognitive levels: remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate, create; psychomotor domain uses the Simpson hierarchy from perception to origination.

Lesson plan components: objectives in behavioural terms, previous knowledge, teaching aids, introduction, presentation, summary, evaluation and assignment.

Miller's pyramid of clinical competence: knows, knows how, shows how, does; the top level requires workplace-based assessment.

Clinical teaching methods: case study, nursing care conference, bedside clinic, demonstration, return demonstration, process recording and simulation.

Evaluation tools: formative assessment occurs during learning (quizzes, observation), summative at the end (final exam); reliability is consistency, validity is measuring what is intended.

Microteaching cycle: plan, teach (5–10 min), feedback, re-plan, re-teach; it builds specific teaching skills in a scaled setting.

Curriculum elements: aims, objectives, content, learning experiences, teaching methods and evaluation; the Tyler model follows these four questions in sequence.

Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE): multiple stations with standardised checklists; improves inter-rater reliability compared with a single viva.

Management functions: planning, organising, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, budgeting (POSDCORB).

Leadership styles: autocratic (decision by leader), democratic (group participation), laissez-faire (minimal direction); situational leadership adapts to follower maturity.

Span of control: the number of subordinates reporting to one manager; a narrow span gives closer supervision but more levels of hierarchy.

Staffing formula by patient dependency: total nursing hours needed per day ÷ hours per nurse per shift gives the number of nurses required; add 20–30% for leave and absence.

In-service education includes induction, orientation, continuing education and refresher courses; it is planned, documented and evaluated.

Nursing audit is a systematic review of records against standards; indicators include infection rate, medication error rate, fall rate and patient satisfaction.

Quality tools: PDSA cycle (plan-do-study-act), root cause analysis for sentinel events, and the Six Sigma DMAIC sequence.

Budget types: capital (equipment, buildings) versus operating/revenue (salaries, supplies); zero-based budgeting justifies every item from scratch each cycle.

Research process order: problem identification, literature review, hypothesis, objectives, methodology, data collection, analysis, interpretation, report and dissemination.

Levels of evidence from highest: systematic reviews of RCTs, RCTs, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, case reports, expert opinion.

Sampling: probability methods include simple random, stratified, systematic and cluster; non-probability include convenience, purposive, quota and snowball.

p-value is the probability of observed results if the null hypothesis is true; p <0.05 conventionally rejects the null but does not measure effect size.

Type I error (alpha) rejects a true null hypothesis; Type II error (beta) fails to reject a false null; power = 1 − beta, usually set at 80%.

Parametric tests (t-test, ANOVA) assume normality and interval data; non-parametric (chi-square, Mann-Whitney U) suit nominal or ordinal data.

Informed consent requires information, comprehension, voluntariness and capacity; the Institutional Ethics Committee approves research involving human participants.

Professional bodies and law: Indian Nursing Council regulates nursing education and registration; the Nurses' Code of Ethics and the Consumer Protection Act govern professional accountability.

Normal adult vital signs: temperature 36.5–37.5 °C oral, pulse 60–100/min, respiration 12–20/min, blood pressure 120/80 mmHg, SpO2 ≥95% on room air.

Body fluid compartments: total body water ≈60% of body weight; intracellular ≈40%, extracellular ≈20% (interstitial 15%, plasma 5%).

Normal serum electrolytes: Na+ 135–145 mEq/L, K+ 3.5–5.0 mEq/L, Ca2+ 8.5–10.5 mg/dL, Cl− 95–105 mEq/L, HCO3− 22–26 mEq/L.

Stages of wound healing: haemostasis (immediate), inflammatory (0–3 days), proliferative (3–21 days), maturation/remodelling (21 days to 1–2 years).

Pressure ulcer staging: Stage 1 non-blanchable erythema; Stage 2 partial-thickness loss; Stage 3 full-thickness with visible fat; Stage 4 exposed bone/tendon/muscle; unstageable covered by slough/eschar.

Surgical asepsis applies to sterile fields, urinary catheterisation and invasive procedures; medical asepsis covers hand hygiene and environmental cleaning.

Hand hygiene moments (WHO): before patient contact, before aseptic task, after body fluid exposure risk, after patient contact, after contact with patient surroundings.

ABCDE primary survey: Airway with cervical spine control, Breathing, Circulation, Disability (GCS), Exposure with temperature control.

Pharmacology essentials: first-pass metabolism reduces oral bioavailability; zero-order kinetics (phenytoin, ethanol, aspirin at high dose) eliminates a constant amount per unit time.

Myocardial infarction: ST-elevation MI needs reperfusion (PCI within 90 min of first medical contact); MONA-B - morphine, oxygen only if SpO2 <90%, nitrates, aspirin 162–325 mg chewed, beta-blocker.

Heart failure: left-sided failure causes pulmonary oedema, orthopnoea, PND; right-sided failure causes raised JVP, hepatomegaly, dependent oedema. Daily weight gain >1 kg/day or >2 kg in a week signals fluid retention.

COPD: oxygen target SpO2 88–92% in patients at risk of CO2 retention; use controlled low-flow oxygen and monitor for drowsiness and rising PaCO2.

Diabetic ketoacidosis: blood glucose >250 mg/dL, pH <7.3, bicarbonate <18 mEq/L, ketonaemia; treat with isotonic saline first, then insulin infusion 0.1 U/kg/h and potassium replacement once K+ <5.5 mEq/L.

Hypoglycaemia in a conscious patient: 15–20 g fast-acting oral carbohydrate, recheck glucose in 15 minutes; if unconscious, IV dextrose or IM glucagon.

Acute kidney injury staged by KDIGO: Stage 1 creatinine rise ≥0.3 mg/dL in 48 h or urine <0.5 mL/kg/h for 6 h; Stage 3 creatinine ≥3× baseline or urine <0.3 mL/kg/h for 24 h.

Stroke: thrombolysis with alteplase window is up to 4.5 hours from symptom onset; keep blood pressure <185/110 mmHg before thrombolysis; perform NIHSS assessment.

Hepatic encephalopathy is precipitated by GI bleeding, infection, constipation, hypokalaemia and sedatives; lactulose titrated to 2–3 soft stools per day.

Chest drain: keep drainage system below chest level, never clamp a bubbling drain in a pneumothorax, and assess for >200 mL/h blood loss as a trigger to escalate.

Crude birth rate = (live births in a year ÷ mid-year population) × 1000; crude death rate uses deaths in the same formula.

Infant mortality rate = (deaths under 1 year ÷ live births in the same year) × 1000; neonatal mortality uses deaths under 28 days.

Maternal mortality ratio = (maternal deaths ÷ live births) × 100,000; India's target under SDG-3 is below 70 per 100,000 live births.

Levels of prevention: primordial (risk-factor avoidance in population), primary (immunisation, health education), secondary (screening, early diagnosis), tertiary (rehabilitation, disability limitation).

Cold chain: OPV and measles vaccine at −20 °C to −15 °C (OPV) or 2–8 °C (measles); DPT, TT, hepatitis B and BCG at 2–8 °C; never freeze DPT, TT, hepatitis B or PCV.

National Immunisation Schedule (India): BCG, OPV-0 and hepatitis B at birth; pentavalent, OPV and fIPV at 6, 10 and 14 weeks; measles-rubella and JE at 9–12 months; DPT and MR boosters at 16–24 months.

Epidemiological study designs: cohort gives incidence and relative risk; case-control gives odds ratio for rare diseases; cross-sectional gives prevalence.

Sensitivity = true positives ÷ (true positives + false negatives); specificity = true negatives ÷ (true negatives + false positives).

Home visit bag technique: place bag on a clean paper, wash hands, take out only needed articles, and clean the bag before leaving; the bag is not placed on the patient's bed.

Naegele's rule: expected date of delivery = first day of last menstrual period + 7 days − 3 months + 1 year (add 1 year for January–March dates).

Normal labour stages: first stage until full cervical dilatation (nullipara up to ~20 h, multipara ~14 h); second stage from full dilatation to birth (up to 3 h nullipara); third stage delivery of placenta (up to 30 min).

Partograph: plot cervical dilatation, descent, fetal heart rate, contractions, membranes, urine and blood pressure; action line crossing or dilatation <1 cm/h in active phase signals obstructed labour.

Pregnancy-induced hypertension: BP ≥140/90 mmHg after 20 weeks; severe features include ≥160/110 mmHg, platelets <100,000/µL, liver enzymes doubled, creatinine >1.1 mg/dL, pulmonary oedema or cerebral symptoms.

Magnesium sulphate for eclampsia: loading 4 g IV + 10 g IM, maintenance 5 g IM every 4 h; monitor patellar reflex, respiratory rate ≥12/min and urine output ≥30 mL/h; antidote is calcium gluconate 10%.

Postpartum haemorrhage: >500 mL after vaginal birth or >1000 mL after caesarean; first-line uterotonics are oxytocin, then methylergometrine (avoid in hypertension), carboprost (avoid in asthma) and misoprostol.

Fetal heart rate baseline 110–160/min; late decelerations indicate uteroplacental insufficiency, variable decelerations indicate cord compression, early decelerations are head compression.

APGAR is scored at 1 and 5 minutes on Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity and Respiration, each 0–2; score 7–10 is normal.

Contraception: combined oral pills are contraindicated in smokers over 35, migraine with aura, and history of venous thromboembolism; copper-T is effective up to 5 days after unprotected intercourse as emergency contraception.

Weight milestones: birth weight doubles by 5 months, triples by 1 year; formula for 1–12 years is (age in years + 4) × 2 kg.

Developmental milestones: social smile 6 weeks, head holding 3 months, rolling over 5 months, sitting without support 6–8 months, walking 12–15 months, two-word sentences 18–24 months.

Paediatric fluid maintenance by Holliday-Segar: 100 mL/kg for first 10 kg, 50 mL/kg for next 10 kg, 20 mL/kg for each kg thereafter per 24 h.

Normal paediatric respiratory rates: newborn 30–60/min, infant 30–53/min, toddler 22–37/min, preschool 20–28/min, school age 18–25/min.

Dehydration grading: mild <5% loss, moderate 5–10%, severe >10% with lethargy, sunken eyes, delayed capillary refill >3 s and skin pinch >2 s.

Kangaroo mother care: skin-to-skin contact, exclusive breastfeeding and early discharge for low-birth-weight infants; reduces hypothermia and mortality.

Neonatal jaundice: physiological after 24 hours, peaks day 3–5 in term infants; jaundice within 24 hours is always pathological (haemolytic disease, sepsis).

ORAL REHYDRATION: ORS is given 75 mL/kg over 4 hours in Plan B and after each loose stool (50–100 mL for under-2s, 100–200 mL for older children) in Plan A.

Kawasaki disease: fever ≥5 days plus conjunctivitis, oral changes, rash, cervical lymphadenopathy and extremity changes; risk is coronary aneurysm; treat with IVIG and aspirin.

Mental status examination domains: appearance, behaviour, speech, mood and affect, thought form and content, perception, cognition, insight and judgement.

Psychosis features: delusions (fixed false beliefs), hallucinations (perceptions without stimuli, auditory most common in schizophrenia), thought disorder and impaired reality testing.

Antipsychotics: typical drugs (haloperidol, chlorpromazine) act on D2 receptors and cause extrapyramidal symptoms; atypicals (risperidone, olanzapine, clozapine) add 5-HT2A blockade.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: rigidity, hyperthermia >38 °C, autonomic instability, raised creatine kinase; stop the antipsychotic, give dantrolene or bromocriptine and supportive care.

Serotonin syndrome: clonus, hyperreflexia, agitation, hyperthermia after SSRIs or MAOIs; treat by stopping serotonergic drugs and giving benzodiazepines; avoid antipyretics alone.

Lithium therapeutic range 0.6–1.2 mEq/L; toxicity signs include coarse tremor, vomiting, ataxia and seizures; maintain sodium and fluid intake.

Depression screening: PHQ-9 score 5–9 mild, 10–14 moderate, 15–19 moderately severe, ≥20 severe; suicidal ideation needs direct risk assessment.

Electroconvulsive therapy: pre-procedure NPO, consent, anaesthesia and muscle relaxant; common transient effects are memory loss and confusion; typically 6–12 sessions.

Defence mechanisms: denial, projection, displacement, rationalisation, sublimation; in alcohol withdrawal use CIWA-Ar scoring and benzodiazepines.

Bloom's taxonomy cognitive levels: remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate, create; psychomotor domain uses the Simpson hierarchy from perception to origination.

Lesson plan components: objectives in behavioural terms, previous knowledge, teaching aids, introduction, presentation, summary, evaluation and assignment.

Miller's pyramid of clinical competence: knows, knows how, shows how, does; the top level requires workplace-based assessment.

Clinical teaching methods: case study, nursing care conference, bedside clinic, demonstration, return demonstration, process recording and simulation.

Evaluation tools: formative assessment occurs during learning (quizzes, observation), summative at the end (final exam); reliability is consistency, validity is measuring what is intended.

Microteaching cycle: plan, teach (5–10 min), feedback, re-plan, re-teach; it builds specific teaching skills in a scaled setting.

Curriculum elements: aims, objectives, content, learning experiences, teaching methods and evaluation; the Tyler model follows these four questions in sequence.

Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE): multiple stations with standardised checklists; improves inter-rater reliability compared with a single viva.

Management functions: planning, organising, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, budgeting (POSDCORB).

Leadership styles: autocratic (decision by leader), democratic (group participation), laissez-faire (minimal direction); situational leadership adapts to follower maturity.

Span of control: the number of subordinates reporting to one manager; a narrow span gives closer supervision but more levels of hierarchy.

Staffing formula by patient dependency: total nursing hours needed per day ÷ hours per nurse per shift gives the number of nurses required; add 20–30% for leave and absence.

In-service education includes induction, orientation, continuing education and refresher courses; it is planned, documented and evaluated.

Nursing audit is a systematic review of records against standards; indicators include infection rate, medication error rate, fall rate and patient satisfaction.

Quality tools: PDSA cycle (plan-do-study-act), root cause analysis for sentinel events, and the Six Sigma DMAIC sequence.

Budget types: capital (equipment, buildings) versus operating/revenue (salaries, supplies); zero-based budgeting justifies every item from scratch each cycle.

Research process order: problem identification, literature review, hypothesis, objectives, methodology, data collection, analysis, interpretation, report and dissemination.

Levels of evidence from highest: systematic reviews of RCTs, RCTs, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, case reports, expert opinion.

Sampling: probability methods include simple random, stratified, systematic and cluster; non-probability include convenience, purposive, quota and snowball.

p-value is the probability of observed results if the null hypothesis is true; p <0.05 conventionally rejects the null but does not measure effect size.

Type I error (alpha) rejects a true null hypothesis; Type II error (beta) fails to reject a false null; power = 1 − beta, usually set at 80%.

Parametric tests (t-test, ANOVA) assume normality and interval data; non-parametric (chi-square, Mann-Whitney U) suit nominal or ordinal data.

Informed consent requires information, comprehension, voluntariness and capacity; the Institutional Ethics Committee approves research involving human participants.

Professional bodies and law: Indian Nursing Council regulates nursing education and registration; the Nurses' Code of Ethics and the Consumer Protection Act govern professional accountability.