AIIMS NORCET key terms

An isotonic crystalloid solution containing 154 mmol/L each of sodium and chloride, used to restore extracellular volume in dehydration, shock and blood loss; it contains no potassium, calcium or buffer, so large volumes can cause hyperchloraemic acidosis.

The number of dissolved particles per kilogram of solvent, determining water movement across cell membranes. Plasma osmolality normally ranges about 275–295 mOsm/kg; values outside this range indicate free-water deficit or excess.

A 24-hour record of all intake (oral, enteral, intravenous, irrigation) and output (urine, vomitus, drainage, stool, insensible losses estimated) used to detect positive or negative balance and guide fluid prescription.

Systematic measurement and hourly or shift-wise summation of fluids entering and leaving the body, with comparison against expected values, to identify oliguria, retention or overhydration early.

The set of practices that keep a person or object free of pathogenic microorganisms. Medical asepsis reduces organism numbers in everyday care; surgical asepsis eliminates them during invasive procedures using sterile technique.

Infection-control measures applied to every patient regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, gown, mask, eye protection, safe sharps handling and safe waste disposal, aimed at blood and body-fluid exposure.

A designated area of sterile drapes and equipment kept free of microorganisms; only sterile items may touch it, and anything contacting a non-sterile surface is considered contaminated and must be replaced.

Sorting hospital waste at the point of generation into colour-coded categories (yellow, red, white, blue, general) so that infectious, sharps, cytotoxic and recyclable waste are handled and disposed of by the correct route.

Accidental percutaneous puncture by a used needle or sharp. Immediate actions are washing the site with soap and water, reporting, and post-exposure prophylaxis assessment for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C within the recommended time window.

Insertion of a sterile tube through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine, used for retention, accurate output measurement or bladder irrigation; it carries risks of infection, trauma and blockage, so duration should be minimal.

A life-threatening state of inadequate tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery causing cellular hypoxia and organ dysfunction. Types include hypovolaemic, cardiogenic, distributive (septic, anaphylactic, neurogenic) and obstructive, each with distinct haemodynamic findings.

The pressure in the superior vena cava or right atrium, normally about 2–8 mmHg, used as a rough estimate of right ventricular preload and volume status; trends are more useful than single readings.

A bedside scoring system combining respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, blood pressure, pulse and consciousness level; a rising score triggers escalating clinical review to prevent cardiac arrest or unplanned ICU transfer.

A 3–15 point scale scoring eye opening, best verbal response and best motor response to quantify level of consciousness after head injury or neurological deterioration; a score of 8 or less indicates severe impairment and airway risk.

Elevation of pressure within the rigid skull above about 15–20 mmHg, causing headache, vomiting, papilloedema, falling consciousness and eventually herniation; nursing care avoids neck flexion, hip flexion and straining.

Death of heart muscle caused by prolonged ischaemia, usually from coronary artery occlusion, recognised by chest pain, ECG changes and raised cardiac troponin; immediate priorities are pain relief, aspirin, oxygenation if hypoxic and reperfusion.

Progressive loss of kidney structure or function lasting more than three months, staged by estimated glomerular filtration rate; management focuses on blood pressure, glycaemic control, protein intake, avoiding nephrotoxins and preparing for renal replacement therapy.

Extracorporeal removal of waste and fluid by diffusion and ultrafiltration across a semipermeable membrane, typically three sessions weekly; nursing checks vascular access, weight, blood pressure and bleeding risk before and after each session.

A first-level rural health facility staffed by medical officers and multipurpose workers, providing curative, preventive and promotive services to about 20,000–30,000 people, acting as the referral link between subcentres and community health centres.

The most peripheral health facility, staffed by an auxiliary nurse midwife or male health worker, serving about 3,000–5,000 people with immunisation, antenatal care, family planning, first aid and referral.

India's umbrella programme combining the National Rural and Urban Health Missions, funding reproductive and child health, immunisation, disease control, infrastructure and human resources to strengthen public health delivery.

India's publicly funded vaccination schedule for pregnant women and children, covering BCG, hepatitis B, oral polio, pentavalent, rotavirus, pneumococcal conjugate, measles-rubella, DPT and tetanus boosters, delivered through routine and campaign sessions.

The unbroken series of temperature-controlled storage and transport steps, generally 2–8 °C for most vaccines, that preserves potency from manufacturer to vaccination site; monitored by vaccine vial monitors and temperature logs.

The number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births in a given year, reflecting maternal health, newborn care, nutrition and access to services; it is a sensitive indicator of overall population health.

The number of maternal deaths during pregnancy or within 42 days of its end per 100,000 live births, from causes related to or aggravated by pregnancy; it measures obstetric care quality and access to emergency services.

A single-sheet graphic record of cervical dilatation, fetal head descent, contractions, maternal vital signs and fetal heart rate plotted against time in labour, used to detect slow progress and obstructed labour and trigger timely referral.

A package of actions in the third stage-uterotonic drug, controlled cord traction and uterine massage-that speeds placental delivery and reduces the risk of postpartum haemorrhage.

Scheduled pregnancy care including history, examination, blood and urine tests, blood pressure and weight monitoring, tetanus immunisation, iron-folic acid supplementation, danger-sign counselling and birth planning; WHO recommends at least eight contacts.

Feeding an infant only breast milk, with no water, other fluids or solids except prescribed medicines, from birth to six months; it reduces infection, supports growth and delays return of fertility.

Treatment of dehydration from diarrhoea with oral rehydration solution containing glucose and electrolytes, given in small frequent sips, plus zinc supplementation; it is the first-line therapy for mild to moderate dehydration.

A rapid 0–10 assessment at one and five minutes after birth scoring heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability and colour; it guides resuscitation decisions but does not diagnose asphyxia on its own.

Yellow discolouration of skin and sclera from unconjugated bilirubin accumulation, common in the first week; pathological if appearing within 24 hours, rising rapidly or persisting, requiring phototherapy or exchange transfusion assessment.

Purposeful, goal-directed interaction in which the nurse uses active listening, open questions, reflection, silence and clarification to help a patient explore feelings, build trust and make decisions.

A structured assessment of appearance, behaviour, speech, mood and affect, thought content and form, perception, cognition and insight, used to document psychiatric findings and monitor change over time.

Unconscious psychological strategies that protect the ego from anxiety, such as denial, projection, rationalisation, displacement, regression and sublimation; mature mechanisms are adaptive, immature ones distort reality and impair functioning.

A hierarchical classification of learning objectives-remember, understand, apply, analyse, evaluate, create-used by nurse educators to write measurable objectives and design assessments that match the intended cognitive level.

A written outline of a teaching session stating objectives, content, teaching methods, audiovisual aids, time allocation, student activities and evaluation, ensuring organised and purposeful instruction.

Formative evaluation occurs during teaching to give feedback and adjust instruction; summative evaluation occurs at the end to judge achievement against objectives and decide progression or certification.

Voluntary agreement by a competent patient after receiving adequate explanation of the procedure, benefits, risks and alternatives; it protects autonomy and must be obtained without coercion and documented.

Systematic review of nursing records and care processes against agreed standards to measure quality, identify gaps and improve practice; it may be retrospective or concurrent and focuses on structure, process and outcome.

A cyclical problem-solving framework of assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation that guides individualised, evidence-based nursing care and is documented in the patient record.

A way to structure a clinical question by Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome, used to focus literature searching and make evidence appraisal systematic in nursing research.

A ranking of study designs by strength against bias, from systematic reviews and randomised trials at the top through cohort and case-control studies to expert opinion, guiding clinical decisions.