Tamil Nadu HSE First Year Nursing (General) flashcards

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

Normal adult pulse rate

60 to 100 beats per minute at rest. Rates below 60 are bradycardia and above 100 tachycardia. Tachycardia may follow fever, pain, dehydration or blood loss.

Pressure ulcer stage 3

Full-thickness skin loss extending into subcutaneous fat, with visible fat but no exposed bone, tendon or muscle. Slough may be present and undermining possible.

Autoclave standard cycle

Sterilisation with moist heat at 121 degrees Celsius under 15 psi pressure for 15 to 20 minutes. It destroys all microorganisms including bacterial spores.

Oliguria definition

Urine output below 400 mL in 24 hours, or below 30 mL per hour in adults. It signals reduced renal perfusion and possible acute kidney injury.

Number of bones in adults

The adult human skeleton has 206 bones: 80 axial bones including skull, vertebral column, ribs and sternum, and 126 appendicular bones of limbs and girdles.

SA node function

The sinoatrial node in the right atrium is the natural pacemaker, firing 60 to 100 impulses per minute and initiating each normal heartbeat.

Normal haemoglobin values

Adult males 13 to 17 g per dL and adult females 12 to 15 g per dL. Lower values indicate anaemia, commonly from iron deficiency in India.

Tidal volume

Volume of air moved into or out of the lungs in one normal quiet breath, about 500 mL in adults. It is measured during spirometry or ventilator monitoring.

Adult CPR compression depth

Push at least 5 cm but not more than 6 cm deep on the lower half of the sternum, at 100 to 120 compressions per minute, allowing full chest recoil.

Heimlich manoeuvre

Abdominal thrusts for a conscious choking adult: stand behind, fist above the navel, pull inward and upward up to five times to expel the obstruction.

Rule of nines burns

Adult body surface estimate: head 9 percent, each arm 9 percent, each leg 18 percent, front trunk 18 percent, back trunk 18 percent, perineum 1 percent.

Snake bite first aid

Keep the patient calm and still, immobilise the bitten limb below heart level, remove tight items, and shift to hospital. Never cut, suck or apply a tight tourniquet.

DOTS tuberculosis treatment

Directly observed treatment, short course: two months of intensive phase with four drugs, followed by four months continuation phase with two or three drugs.

Malaria transmission

Spread by the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito, which bites mainly between dusk and dawn. Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe disease.

Dengue warning signs

Persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, mucosal bleeding, fluid accumulation and rising haematocrit with falling platelets. These indicate progression to severe dengue.

Kwashiorkor features

Protein deficiency with adequate energy causing oedema, moon face, distended abdomen, fatty liver, skin changes and apathy. Marasmus instead shows severe wasting.

Energy value of nutrients

Carbohydrate and protein supply 4 kcal per gram, fat supplies 9 kcal per gram, and alcohol supplies 7 kcal per gram. One kilocalorie equals 4.184 kilojoules.

Night blindness cause

Vitamin A deficiency impairs rhodopsin formation in the retina, reducing vision in dim light. Bitot spots and xerophthalmia may follow if untreated.

Naegele rule

Estimated date of delivery equals first day of last menstrual period minus three months, plus seven days, plus one year. It assumes a 28-day regular cycle.

APGAR score components

Five signs scored 0 to 2 each at one and five minutes: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity and Respiration. Total 7 to 10 is normal; below 7 needs support.

Postpartum haemorrhage

Blood loss exceeding 500 mL after vaginal birth or 1000 mL after caesarean section. Uterine atony is the commonest cause; treat with massage and oxytocin.

Cold chain temperature

Vaccines are kept at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, except OPV and measles vaccine stored frozen. Freeze-sensitive vaccines such as DPT and hepatitis B must never freeze.

Infant mortality rate

Number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1000 live births in a given year. It reflects maternal and child health and sanitation standards.

Primary prevention examples

Measures taken before disease occurs: immunisation, health education, safe water supply, nutritional improvement and vector control. It reduces incidence of disease.

Gram stain result

Gram-positive bacteria retain crystal violet and appear purple; Gram-negative bacteria lose it, take safranin counterstain and appear pink. Shape and arrangement also guide identification.

Hand hygiene duration

Wash hands with soap and water for 40 to 60 seconds, or rub with alcohol-based hand rub for 20 to 30 seconds. It is the single most effective infection control measure.

Autoclave versus hot air oven

Autoclave uses moist heat at 121 degrees Celsius for 15 to 20 minutes. Hot air oven uses dry heat at 160 degrees Celsius for two hours for glassware and sharp instruments.

Ten rights of medication

Right patient, drug, dose, route, time, documentation, reason, response, to refuse and education. Checking all ten prevents most medication administration errors.

Drug dose calculation

Dose to give equals desired dose divided by stock strength, multiplied by stock volume. Example: 250 mg needed from 500 mg in 5 mL gives 2.5 mL.

Ventrogluteal injection site

Safest intramuscular site for adults and children over seven months, located by placing the palm on the greater trochanter with index finger on the anterior iliac spine.

Informed consent elements

Valid consent requires patient capacity, full disclosure of risks, benefits and alternatives, and a voluntary decision free of coercion. It is documented before procedures.

Therapeutic communication

Purposeful communication that promotes patient understanding: active listening, open-ended questions, reflection, restating and silence. It avoids jargon and false reassurance.