PGIMER Nursing Officer flashcards

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

Troponin

Cardiac muscle protein released into blood after myocardial injury; rises within 3–6 hours, peaks around 24 hours and remains elevated for 7–14 days, making it the preferred marker for myocardial infarction.

Late deceleration

Fetal heart rate deceleration that begins after the uterine contraction peak and returns slowly, indicating uteroplacental insufficiency; manage with left lateral position, oxygen and stopping oxytocin.

Braden Scale

Six-item risk assessment tool for pressure injury covering sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition and friction/shear. Total score ranges 6–23; 9 or below indicates very high risk.

Holliday-Segar method

Paediatric maintenance fluid calculation giving 100 mL/kg/day for the first 10 kg of body weight, 50 mL/kg/day for the next 10 kg and 20 mL/kg/day for each kilogram thereafter.

Infant mortality rate

Number of deaths of children under one year of age in a given year divided by the number of live births in that same year, multiplied by 1000.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Life-threatening reaction to antipsychotics marked by muscle rigidity, hyperthermia above 38 °C, autonomic instability and raised creatine kinase; stop the drug, cool the patient and give dantrolene or bromocriptine.

Cardiac output

Volume of blood pumped by one ventricle per minute, calculated as heart rate multiplied by stroke volume. Normal adult resting value is approximately 5 litres per minute.

Autoclave parameters

Standard steam sterilisation uses 121 °C at 15 pounds per square inch pressure for 15–20 minutes, or 134 °C for a shorter cycle; used for heat-stable instruments and linen.

Protamine sulphate

Antidote that neutralises heparin by binding it directly; dose is calculated from the amount of heparin given, and it is also used to reverse heparin during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Nitrogen balance

Difference between nitrogen intake and nitrogen loss. Positive balance occurs in growth and recovery; negative balance occurs in catabolism, burns and malnutrition. One gram of nitrogen equals about 6.25 g protein.

Span of control

Number of subordinates directly reporting to one manager. Narrow spans suit complex high-acuity units; wide spans suit routine, standardised work with experienced staff.

Informed consent

Ethical and legal requirement that research participants receive full disclosure, understand it, decide voluntarily and are competent; participants may withdraw at any time without penalty.

International Nurses Day

Observed annually on 12 May, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, to recognise nursing contributions; Nightingale opened her training school at St Thomas' Hospital in 1860.

Alligation rule

Method for mixing two ingredients at different prices or strengths: quantity of cheaper divided by quantity of dearer equals the difference between mean and dearer price divided by difference between cheaper and mean.

DKA treatment sequence

Give isotonic saline first for volume, then start insulin infusion at 0.1 unit/kg/hour, and add potassium replacement once serum potassium is below 5.5 mmol/L with confirmed urine output.

Six rights of medication

Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, right time and right documentation; many services add right reason and right to refuse as safeguards against error.

Naegele's rule

Method to estimate delivery date: take the first day of the last menstrual period, subtract three months, add seven days and add one year, assuming a 28-day cycle.

APGAR score

Assessment at one and five minutes after birth scoring appearance, pulse, grimace, activity and respiration from 0 to 2 each, giving a total out of 10.

Levels of prevention

Primordial prevention avoids risk factors arising; primary prevents disease before onset; secondary detects and treats early; tertiary limits disability and supports rehabilitation.

Serotonin syndrome

Toxic reaction to serotonergic drugs with mental status change, autonomic hyperactivity and neuromuscular abnormalities such as clonus and hyperreflexia; stop the offending agent and give supportive care.

Cranial nerve seven

The facial nerve, controlling muscles of facial expression and carrying taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue; tested by asking the patient to smile, frown and close eyes tightly.

Chain of infection

Six linked elements: infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry and susceptible host. Breaking any single link prevents transmission.

Heparin monitoring

Activated partial thromboplastin time, kept at 1.5–2.5 times control during therapy; protamine sulphate reverses heparin. Warfarin is monitored by INR and reversed by vitamin K.

Body mass index

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Underweight is below 18.5, normal 18.5–24.9, overweight 25–29.9 and obese 30 or above.

Herzberg two-factor theory

Hygiene factors such as salary, policy and working conditions prevent dissatisfaction but do not motivate; motivators such as achievement, recognition and responsibility create genuine satisfaction.

Levels of evidence

Hierarchy ranking study designs: systematic reviews and meta-analyses highest, then randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, case series and expert opinion lowest.

Indian Nursing Council

Statutory regulatory body for nursing in India, established under the Indian Nursing Council Act of 1947; it sets standards for nursing education and recognises qualifications.

OSI model layers

Seven layers from bottom: physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation and application. TCP operates at the transport layer and IP at the network layer.

Magnesium sulphate monitoring

For pre-eclampsia, monitor deep tendon reflexes, respiratory rate at least 12 per minute and urine output at least 30 mL per hour; calcium gluconate reverses toxicity.

Kawasaki disease

Childhood vasculitis with fever for five days or more plus four of five features: rash, conjunctivitis, oral changes, cervical lymphadenopathy and extremity changes; treat with IVIG and aspirin.

Cold chain for vaccines

OPV is kept at −20 °C; most other vaccines including DPT, hepatitis B and tetanus toxoid are stored at 2–8 °C and must not be frozen.

Digoxin toxicity risk

Therapeutic range is 0.5–2 ng/mL; hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia and renal impairment increase risk. Withhold the dose and check the apical pulse for a full minute when it is below 60 per minute.