Hey! How can I help you today?

Give me some common nursing knowledge

Asking for Preferences

Reading File

Finding Sources

Reading File

The library doesn't have dedicated nursing textbooks, but I have rich general clinical knowledge. Let me now compile a solid, broad nursing knowledge overview from my training knowledge (which is extensive for nursing fundamentals).

Common Nursing Knowledge

Here's a practical overview covering the core areas every nurse needs to know.

1. Vital Signs - Normal Ranges

Parameter	Normal Adult Range
Temperature	36.1 - 37.2°C (97 - 99°F)
Heart Rate (Pulse)	60 - 100 bpm
Respiratory Rate	12 - 20 breaths/min
Blood Pressure	90/60 - 120/80 mmHg
Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)	95 - 100%
Pain	0 (goal; reassess after intervention)

Key mnemonics: "TPRBP" - Temperature, Pulse, Respiration, Blood Pressure.

2. The Nursing Process (ADPIE)

Step	Action
Assessment	Collect subjective & objective data
Diagnosis	Identify nursing diagnoses (NANDA)
Planning	Set SMART goals with the patient
Implementation	Carry out interventions
Evaluation	Determine if goals were met; revise plan

3. The "Rights" of Medication Administration

The classic 5 Rights (expanded to 9 in modern practice):

Right patient (check 2 identifiers)
Right medication
Right dose
Right route
Right time
Right documentation
Right reason/indication
Right response (assess after giving)
Right to refuse

4. Common Lab Values to Know

Lab	Normal Range	Key Clinical Note
Sodium (Na+)	135 - 145 mEq/L	Low = hyponatremia (confusion, seizures)
Potassium (K+)	3.5 - 5.0 mEq/L	Low = arrhythmias, weakness
Glucose (fasting)	70 - 100 mg/dL	>126 = diabetes, <70 = hypoglycemia
Hemoglobin (Hgb)	12 - 17 g/dL	Low = anemia; high = polycythemia
Hematocrit (Hct)	37 - 52%	Rule of 3: Hgb x 3 ≈ Hct
Creatinine	0.6 - 1.2 mg/dL	Elevated = kidney dysfunction
INR (on warfarin)	2.0 - 3.0 (therapeutic)	>3.5 = bleeding risk
WBC	4,500 - 11,000/µL	Elevated = infection/inflammation
Platelets	150,000 - 400,000/µL	<50,000 = bleeding precautions

5. Infection Control - Standard Precautions

Always used with every patient:

Hand hygiene (before and after patient contact)
Gloves when touching body fluids
Gown, mask, eye protection when splashing is possible

Transmission-Based Precautions:

Type	Use For	PPE
Contact	MRSA, C. diff, wound infections	Gloves + gown
Droplet	Flu, COVID-19, meningitis	Surgical mask
Airborne	TB, measles, varicella	N95 + negative pressure room

6. SBAR Communication

Used when handing off patients or calling a provider:

Situation - What is happening right now?
Background - Relevant history and context
Assessment - What do you think the problem is?
Recommendation - What do you need / suggest?

7. Fluid & Electrolyte Balance

Signs of Dehydration: dry mucous membranes, decreased skin turgor, tachycardia, low urine output (<0.5 mL/kg/hr), concentrated urine (dark yellow).

Signs of Fluid Overload: crackles in lungs, edema, hypertension, weight gain, JVD (jugular vein distension).

IV Fluid Types:

Type	Tonicity	Use
Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl)	Isotonic	Volume replacement
Lactated Ringer's (LR)	Isotonic	Burns, surgery, fluid resuscitation
D5W	Hypotonic (in body)	Free water replacement, hypernatremia
3% NaCl	Hypertonic	Severe hyponatremia

8. Pain Assessment

Use NRS (0-10 scale) for adults who can communicate
Use FACES scale for children or cognitively impaired patients
Use FLACC scale (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability) for non-verbal patients
Always reassess pain 30-60 min after intervention

OLDCART for pain history: Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Treatment.

9. Common Nursing Interventions by Priority

Use Maslow's Hierarchy and ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) to prioritize:

Airway - always first (e.g., position patient, suction)
Breathing - O2 therapy, respiratory rate monitoring
Circulation - IV access, fluids, hemodynamic monitoring
Safety - fall prevention, bed alarms, call light in reach
Psychosocial - education, emotional support, family involvement

ABC always beats everything else in an emergency.

10. Pressure Injury (Bedsore) Prevention - Braden Scale

The Braden Scale assesses risk across 6 categories:

Sensory perception, moisture, activity, mobility, nutrition, friction/shear
Score ≤18 = at risk; ≤9 = very high risk

Prevention measures:

Reposition every 2 hours
Keep skin clean and dry
Use pressure-relieving mattresses
Optimize nutrition (protein intake)

11. Fall Prevention

High-risk patients: elderly, post-surgery, on sedatives/narcotics, history of falls.

Interventions:

Non-slip footwear
Bed in lowest position, brakes locked
Call light within reach
Hourly rounding
Yellow "fall risk" armband/signage

12. Common Drug Classes Nurses Monitor Closely

Drug Class	Example	Key Nursing Concern
Anticoagulants	Warfarin, heparin	Bleeding; monitor INR/aPTT
Insulin	Regular, NPH, glargine	Hypoglycemia; always verify dose with 2 nurses
Opioids	Morphine, oxycodone	Respiratory depression; have naloxone ready
Digoxin	Digoxin	Toxicity (nausea, visual changes, bradycardia); check K+
Diuretics	Furosemide	Monitor K+, fluid balance, BP
Beta-blockers	Metoprolol	Don't give if HR <60 bpm

13. Key Nursing Abbreviations

Abbrev.	Meaning
PRN	As needed
q4h, q8h	Every 4/8 hours
PO	By mouth (oral)
IV, IM, SQ	Intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous
NPO	Nothing by mouth
I&O	Intake and output
SOB	Shortness of breath
c/o	Complains of
Hx	History
Dx	Diagnosis

This covers the foundational pillars of nursing practice. Let me know if you want to go deeper into any specific area - pharmacology, specific conditions, procedures, or exam prep (NCLEX style)!

Apgar

Finding Sources

Reading File

The Apgar Score

Devised by Dr. Virginia Apgar in 1952, it is the standard method for assessing a newborn's physical condition immediately after birth and their response to resuscitation.

When It's Done

At 1 minute after birth (reflects how well the baby tolerated labor/delivery)
At 5 minutes after birth (reflects how well the baby is adapting to the outside world)
If the score is <7 at 5 min: repeat every 5 minutes up to 20 minutes while resuscitation continues

The 5 Signs (Mnemonic: APGAR)

Letter	Sign	0	1	2
A	Appearance (Color)	Blue/pale all over	Body pink, extremities blue	Completely pink
P	Pulse (Heart Rate)	Absent	<100 bpm	≥100 bpm
G	Grimace (Reflex irritability)	No response	Grimace	Cough, sneeze, or cry
A	Activity (Muscle tone)	Limp/flaccid	Some flexion	Active motion, good flexion
R	Respiration	Absent	Slow, irregular	Strong, crying

Maximum score = 10

Score Interpretation

Score	Interpretation	Action
7 - 10	Normal, no depression	Routine newborn care
4 - 6	Mild to moderate depression	Stimulate, supplemental O2, observe closely
0 - 3	Severe depression	Immediate resuscitation (warmth, suction, O2, possible CPR)

A score of 9 or 10 is considered perfect. A score of 10 is rare because most newborns have some degree of acrocyanosis (blue extremities) right after birth.

Key Nursing Points

Do NOT delay resuscitation to calculate the Apgar score - ABCs always first
Omitting the Apgar score in a newborn (especially low birth weight) is considered negligence
A low 1-min score alone does NOT predict neurologic outcome
A score of 0-3 at 5 minutes may correlate with neonatal death (high-risk for neonatal period complications)
Factors that can lower the score (independent of baby's condition): prematurity, maternal medications (opioids, sedatives), infection, and ongoing resuscitation

What Happens After a Low Score?

Immediate newborn resuscitation steps (if score <7):

Warm - dry and stimulate the baby
Position - sniff position to open airway
Clear airway - suction mouth then nose
Oxygen - supplemental O2 or bag-mask ventilation
Chest compressions if HR <60 despite ventilation
Medications (epinephrine) if HR remains <60

Sources: Textbook of Family Medicine 9e; Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine

This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.