Basic Nursing Skills
What this domain covers
Basic nursing skills are the measurements and procedures you perform under nurse delegation: vital signs, height and weight, intake and output, specimen collection, positioning, range of motion, and simple treatments.
Vital signs. Know adult norms - oral temperature roughly 97.6–99.6 °F, pulse 60–100 beats per minute, respirations 12–20 per minute, blood pressure below 120/80, and oxygen saturation 95–100%. Wait 15 minutes after hot or cold food, drink, or smoking before an oral temperature. Never take a rectal temperature on a resident with diarrhea, recent rectal surgery, or heart disease. Count respirations for a full minute without announcing it, since breathing changes when people know they are watched. Match the blood pressure cuff to arm size and support the arm at heart level.
Intake and output. Record everything that goes in (oral fluids, IV fluids, tube feedings) and everything that comes out (urine, vomit, diarrhea, drainage). Measure urine in the graduate, never estimate from the toilet.
Positioning and movement. Reposition at least every two hours, keep body parts aligned, use pillows and draw sheets to prevent shearing, and lock beds and wheelchairs before every transfer. Support the weak side and let the resident do whatever they can for themselves.
Trap to watch
When a question asks what to do first about an abnormal value, the answer is rarely to treat it yourself. Keep the resident safe, stay with them if needed, and report to the nurse.
Rule of thumb: compare each reading to the resident's own baseline. A blood pressure of 98/60 is alarming for someone who usually runs 150/90 and unremarkable for someone who always runs 100/60. If it is new, it is news - report it.