Tamil Nadu HSE Second Year Nursing (Vocational) flashcards

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

Normal adult pulse range

60 to 100 beats per minute at rest. Rates below 60 indicate bradycardia and above 100 tachycardia; count for one full minute when the rhythm is irregular.

Stage 1 pressure ulcer

Intact skin with non-blanchable erythema over a bony prominence. It does not turn white when pressed and signals tissue damage before skin breakdown occurs.

Ventrogluteal injection site

Safest intramuscular site for adults and children over seven months. It lies away from major nerves and blood vessels and accepts larger volumes than the deltoid.

Surgical asepsis definition

Practices that destroy all microorganisms including spores, using sterile gloves, sterile drapes, and sterile instruments. Used for procedures that break the skin or enter sterile body cavities.

Fowler's position purpose

Sitting position with the head of bed raised 45 to 60 degrees. It improves lung expansion in dyspnoea, eases breathing, and helps drain abdominal secretions.

Number of bones in adult

The adult skeleton has 206 bones. Eighty form the axial skeleton (skull, vertebrae, ribs, sternum) and 126 form the appendicular skeleton (limbs and girdles).

Functional unit of kidney

The nephron, about one million per kidney. It filters blood at the glomerulus and reabsorbs water, glucose, and ions along the tubule to form urine.

Normal adult haemoglobin values

13 to 17 g/dL in men and 12 to 15 g/dL in women. Lower values indicate anaemia; haemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to tissues.

Respiratory centre location

The medulla oblongata contains the primary respiratory centre, assisted by the pons. It sets the rhythm of breathing in response to carbon dioxide and pH changes.

Vagus nerve function

The tenth cranial nerve, the longest, supplies the heart, lungs, and abdominal viscera. It slows the heart rate and stimulates digestion and glandular secretion.

Gram stain principle

Gram-positive bacteria retain crystal violet and appear purple because of a thick peptidoglycan wall. Gram-negative bacteria lose it, take safranin, and appear pink.

Autoclave standard cycle

Sterilisation at 121 degrees Celsius and 15 psi for 15 to 20 minutes. The biological spore test organism used to verify the cycle is Geobacillus stearothermophilus.

Airborne precaution diseases

Pulmonary tuberculosis, measles, and varicella require airborne precautions. Use an N95 respirator and a negative-pressure room with the door closed.

Chain of infection links

Infectious agent, reservoir, portal of exit, mode of transmission, portal of entry, and susceptible host. Breaking any single link prevents transmission of infection.

Hepatitis A transmission route

Faecal-oral route through contaminated food, water, or hands. Hepatitis B and HIV instead spread through blood, sexual contact, and contaminated needles.

Energy value of nutrients

Carbohydrate and protein provide 4 kcal per gram; fat provides 9 kcal per gram. One kilocalorie equals 4.184 kilojoules of energy.

Vitamin C deficiency disease

Scurvy, marked by bleeding gums, loose teeth, poor wound healing, and bruising. Vitamin C is needed for collagen synthesis and aids iron absorption.

Kwashiorkor features

Protein-energy malnutrition with oedema, low serum albumin, fatty liver, and skin changes, but appetite is often preserved. It usually affects children after weaning.

Iodine deficiency consequences

Goitre in adults and cretinism with mental and physical retardation in children born to deficient mothers. Universal salt iodisation is the standard preventive measure.

Primary health centre population norm

One primary health centre serves about 30,000 people in rural plains and 20,000 in hilly or difficult terrain. Each sub-centre serves 5,000 or 3,000 respectively.

Infant mortality rate formula

Deaths of infants under one year in a year divided by live births in the same year, multiplied by 1,000. It reflects maternal and child health status.

Incidence versus prevalence

Incidence counts new cases arising in a population over a period. Prevalence counts all existing cases at a point in time, including old and new.

Vitamin A prophylaxis schedule

100,000 IU at nine months with the measles vaccine, then 200,000 IU every six months until age five. It prevents night blindness and xerophthalmia.

Naegele's rule calculation

Take the first day of the last menstrual period, add seven days, subtract three months, and add one year. This estimates the expected date of delivery.

Third stage of labour

From the birth of the baby to expulsion of the placenta and membranes, normally within 30 minutes. The nurse watches for bleeding and uterine tone.

Normal fetal heart rate range

110 to 160 beats per minute. It is best heard over the fetal back; persistent rates outside this range suggest fetal distress and need referral.

Apgar score components

Heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and colour, each scored 0 to 2 at one and five minutes. A total of 7 to 10 is normal.

Adult CPR compression ratio

Give 30 chest compressions at 100 to 120 per minute, depth 5 to 6 cm, followed by 2 rescue breaths. Continue until help arrives or the person recovers.

First aid for burns

Cool the burn under running water for at least 20 minutes, remove tight items, and cover with a clean non-adherent dressing. Never apply oil, toothpaste, or ice.

Snake bite first aid

Keep the person calm and the bitten limb immobilised below heart level, remove rings, and reach hospital fast. Do not cut, suck, or apply a tight tourniquet.

Informed consent elements

Valid consent needs patient capacity, adequate information about risks and benefits, comprehension of that information, and voluntary choice. It can be withdrawn at any time.

SBAR handover format

A structured communication tool: Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. It gives concise, complete patient information during shift handover or referral.