Kuwait MOH Nurse Exam key terms

Practices that prevent microorganisms from entering a sterile area or a patient's body. Medical asepsis reduces pathogen spread through hand hygiene and clean technique, while surgical asepsis keeps objects and fields completely free of all microorganisms.

Infection control measures applied to every patient regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection, and safe handling of sharps and body fluids. They assume all blood and body fluids may carry transmissible infection.

Barrier items such as gloves, gowns, masks, respirators, and eye shields worn to protect the nurse's skin, mucous membranes, and clothing from contact with blood, body fluids, and airborne pathogens. Selection depends on the anticipated exposure risk.

Extra precautions used in addition to standard precautions for patients with known or suspected pathogens, grouped as contact, droplet, and airborne. Each type specifies the barrier equipment, room placement, and transport rules required to interrupt that route of spread.

Measures for pathogens spread by tiny droplet nuclei that stay suspended in air, such as tuberculosis and measles. They require a negative-pressure room, a fit-tested N95 respirator, and a closed door during transport.

Accidental puncture of the skin by a contaminated needle or sharp. Immediate care includes washing the site with soap and water and reporting the exposure so post-exposure prophylaxis and source testing can begin promptly.

A puncture-resistant, leak-proof, clearly labeled receptacle used to dispose of needles, scalpels, and other contaminated sharps. It is filled only to the marked fill line and never overfilled, to prevent injuries during handling and disposal.

Objective measurements of body temperature, pulse rate and rhythm, respiratory rate and depth, blood pressure, and often oxygen saturation. They establish a baseline and reveal deterioration or response to treatment, so abnormal values must be reported.

The force exerted by circulating blood against arterial walls, recorded as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure in millimeters of mercury. Correct technique requires the right cuff size, arm support at heart level, and the patient resting quietly.

A drop in blood pressure on standing, commonly defined as a fall of at least 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic within three minutes. It causes dizziness and falls, and is checked by measuring pressure lying, sitting, and standing.

A noninvasive method of estimating arterial oxygen saturation by passing light through a translucent site such as a fingertip. Readings may be unreliable with poor perfusion, nail polish, or motion, so they must be interpreted with the clinical picture.

A set of nursing actions that reduce a patient's risk of falling, including bed in low position, brakes locked, call bell in reach, nonskid footwear, adequate lighting, and hourly rounding. Patients at high risk are identified on admission and reassessed regularly.

Localized damage to skin and underlying tissue, usually over a bony prominence, caused by sustained pressure combined with shear, friction, or moisture. Prevention includes repositioning, support surfaces, skin care, and nutrition assessment.

A validated tool that scores six risk factors, including sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction or shear, to predict pressure injury risk. Lower total scores indicate higher risk and trigger preventive interventions.

Assessment and management of a break in skin integrity, covering wound cleaning, dressing selection, and monitoring for signs of infection such as redness, warmth, swelling, and purulent drainage. Healing is documented by measuring size and describing tissue type.

A record of all fluids a patient takes in by mouth, tube, or vein and all fluids lost through urine, emesis, drainage, and insensible loss estimates. Accurate measurement helps detect dehydration, fluid overload, and renal problems.

A state of excess body fluid, often from rapid intravenous infusion or heart or kidney failure, producing weight gain, edema, raised jugular venous pressure, crackles, and dyspnea. Treatment includes slowing intake, diuretics, and monitoring respiratory status.

Insertion of a sterile tube through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine. It requires sterile technique, securement, a closed drainage system kept below bladder level, and daily review so the catheter is removed as early as possible.

A urinary tract infection developing in a patient with an indwelling catheter, often linked to prolonged use or breaks in the closed system. Prevention focuses on avoiding unnecessary catheters, strict insertion technique, and prompt removal.

An infection occurring at or near a surgical incision, usually within thirty days of the operation or within a year if an implant is present. Signs include wound redness, tenderness, discharge, fever, and delayed healing.

A syndrome in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, causing fatigue, dyspnea, orthopnea, edema, and weight gain. Nursing care emphasizes daily weights, fluid balance, medication adherence, and recognizing worsening symptoms.

Death of heart muscle caused by prolonged blockage of a coronary artery, presenting with crushing chest pain, diaphoresis, nausea, and sometimes atypical symptoms in older adults and people with diabetes. Rapid recognition and reperfusion are critical.

A systematic process of sorting patients by the urgency of their condition so that limited resources go first to those who need immediate care. It uses vital signs, chief complaint, and a validated acuity scale rather than arrival order.

A life-threatening state in which tissue perfusion is inadequate to meet cellular oxygen demand, causing low blood pressure, rapid weak pulse, cool clammy skin, restlessness, and reduced urine output. Types include hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive, and obstructive.

Administration of supplemental oxygen by nasal cannula, mask, or other device to correct hypoxemia. The flow rate and device are matched to the patient's needs, and oxygen is humidified at high flows and used cautiously in some chronic lung disease.

Delivery of fluids, electrolytes, or medications directly into a vein through a cannula. The nurse verifies the prescription, checks patency and site condition, calculates the rate, and watches for infiltration, phlebitis, and fluid overload.

A safety framework requiring the right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, and right documentation. Many facilities add the right reason and the patient's right to refuse, and verification is repeated at the bedside.

A drug that carries a heightened risk of serious harm when used in error, such as insulin, heparin, opioids, and concentrated electrolytes. Safeguards include independent double-checks, standardized concentrations, and clear labeling.

Any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm, including wrong drug, dose, route, timing, or omission. Reporting through the facility incident system is required and supports system improvement rather than blame.

A pregnancy-specific disorder marked by new hypertension after twenty weeks of gestation with proteinuria or other organ dysfunction. It can progress to seizures and requires close monitoring of blood pressure, reflexes, and fetal well-being.

The occurrence of seizures in a patient with preeclampsia that cannot be attributed to another cause. It is an obstetric emergency managed with magnesium sulfate, airway support, blood pressure control, and prompt delivery planning.

Adverse effects of magnesium therapy such as loss of deep tendon reflexes, respiratory depression, and oliguria, seen when serum levels rise too high. Monitoring includes reflexes, respirations, urine output, and having calcium gluconate available as an antidote.

New elevation of blood pressure arising after twenty weeks of pregnancy without proteinuria or other features of preeclampsia. It requires ongoing surveillance because some cases later progress to preeclampsia.

Excessive bleeding after childbirth, commonly defined as blood loss over 500 mL after vaginal birth or 1000 mL after cesarean, or any loss causing hemodynamic instability. Causes are remembered as tone, trauma, tissue, and thrombin.

Failure of the uterus to contract firmly after delivery, making it the most common cause of postpartum hemorrhage. Management includes uterine massage, emptying the bladder, oxytocic medications, and monitoring lochia and vital signs.

A rapid assessment performed at one and five minutes after birth, scoring heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and color from zero to two each. The total guides the need for newborn resuscitation.

A stepwise response to a depressed newborn, beginning with warmth, drying, stimulation, and airway positioning, then positive-pressure ventilation if breathing remains inadequate. Chest compressions and medications follow if the heart rate stays very low.

Yellow discoloration of a newborn's skin and eyes from accumulated bilirubin. It is common in the first week, but early onset, rapid progression, or high levels require investigation and phototherapy to prevent brain injury.

A deficit of body water and electrolytes, often from vomiting or diarrhea, judged by weight loss, sunken eyes, dry mucous membranes, reduced urine, and lethargy. Oral rehydration is preferred in mild to moderate cases; severe cases need intravenous fluids.

Administration of a balanced glucose-electrolyte solution in small frequent amounts to replace fluid losses from diarrhea. It is the first-line treatment for mild to moderate dehydration and reduces the need for intravenous therapy.

Purposeful use of verbal and nonverbal techniques, such as open questions, reflection, silence, and clarification, to help a patient express feelings and understand their care. It avoids false reassurance, advice-giving, and changing the subject.

Fully attending to a patient's words and feelings through eye contact, posture, nodding, and brief encouragers, then reflecting back what was understood. It builds trust and helps the nurse detect concerns the patient has not stated directly.

A structured inquiry into thoughts, plans, intent, means, and protective factors in a patient who may be at risk of self-harm. Findings determine observation level, environmental safety measures, and referral, and are documented clearly.

Application of a physical or chemical measure that limits a patient's freedom of movement, permitted only when less restrictive alternatives fail and there is imminent risk of harm. It requires a prescriber's order, time limits, monitoring, and frequent reassessment.

A patient's voluntary agreement to a procedure after receiving and understanding information about its purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives. The provider obtains consent; the nurse verifies understanding, capacity, and that no coercion occurred.

The professional duty to protect a patient's health information from unauthorized disclosure, sharing it only with those involved in care or as required by law. Breaches may occur through careless conversation, unsecured records, or social media.

Acting on the patient's behalf to protect their rights, safety, and preferences, including speaking up about unsafe practice, errors, or inadequate care. Advocacy may require escalating concerns through proper channels.

The activities a nurse is legally authorized to perform at a given level of licensure, as defined by law, regulation, and employer policy. Working outside it exposes the nurse and patient to harm and may lead to disciplinary action.

A disease that must be reported to public health authorities so that surveillance, contact tracing, and control measures can be started. Examples include tuberculosis, measles, and foodborne illness; reporting duties are set by national regulation.

Ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data to detect outbreaks and guide public health action. It includes passive reporting by clinicians and active case finding by health teams.

A structured public health response to more cases of a disease than expected, covering case definition, case finding, descriptive analysis, hypothesis testing, and control measures. Communication with the community and authorities runs throughout.

Administration of vaccines to produce protective immunity against specific diseases, delivered according to a national schedule with correct storage, dose, route, and documentation. Contraindications and cold chain requirements must be respected.

The temperature-controlled system that keeps vaccines within their required range from manufacture to administration, usually two to eight degrees Celsius for refrigerated vaccines. Breaks in the chain reduce potency and require the affected stock to be withheld.

A planned process of helping individuals and groups gain knowledge and skills to protect and improve their health. It uses plain language, teach-back, and culturally appropriate materials, and evaluates whether learning occurred.

Activities that enable people to increase control over and improve their health, such as screening, lifestyle counseling, and supportive environments. It differs from disease treatment by targeting risk factors before illness develops.