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Nursing

A healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent illness, and support recovery.

Nursing Process

Nursing Process is a clinical topic covering pathophysiology, diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, and patient care.

Key points: Core principles, practical applications, and advanced concepts that build deep understanding.

Patient Safety

Patient Safety is a clinical topic covering pathophysiology, diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, and patient care.

Key points: Structure and function, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and evidence-based management.

Health Assessment

Health Assessment is a clinical topic covering pathophysiology, diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, and patient care.

Key points: Core principles, practical applications, and advanced concepts that build deep understanding.

Pharmacology for Nurses

Pharmacology for Nurses is a clinical topic covering pathophysiology, diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, and patient care.

Key points: Core principles, practical applications, and advanced concepts that build deep understanding.

Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology is an essential biology topic covering living systems, from cellular processes to ecosystems.

Key points: Structure and function, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and evidence-based management.

Therapeutic Communication

Therapeutic Communication is a clinical topic covering pathophysiology, diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, and patient care.

Key points: Core principles, practical applications, and advanced concepts that build deep understanding.

Health Promotion

Health Promotion is a fundamental physics concept explaining the behavior of matter and energy, with formulas and real-world applications.

Key points: Core principles, practical applications, and advanced concepts that build deep understanding.

Nursing Ethics

Nursing Ethics is a clinical topic covering pathophysiology, diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, and patient care.

Key points: Core principles, practical applications, and advanced concepts that build deep understanding.

Key Formulas & Equations

Body Mass Index: BMI = weight(kg) / height(m)²
Body Surface Area (Du Bois): BSA = 0.007184 × W0.425 × H0.725
Ideal Body Weight (Devine): IBW = 50 + 2.3(inches > 60) [M]; 45.5 + 2.3(inches > 60) [F]
IV Drip Rate: Drops/min = (Volume × Drop factor) / Time
Infusion Rate: mL/hr = Total volume / Time (hours)
Pediatric Dose (Young's Rule): Child dose = (Age / (Age + 12)) × Adult dose
Mean Arterial Pressure: MAP = (SBP + 2×DBP) / 3
Cardiac Output: CO = HR × SV
Stroke Volume Index: SVI = CI / HR × 1000
Dosage Calculation: Dose = (Ordered / Available) × Quantity
Clark's Rule: Child dose = (Weight in lbs / 150) × Adult dose
Fried's Rule (infants): Dose = (Age in months / 150) × Adult dose

Core Concepts

Nursing Process

A systematic, patient-centered approach to care: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADPIE). The foundation of all nursing practice.

Patient Safety

Principles to prevent harm to patients during care delivery. Includes infection control, medication safety, fall prevention, and proper patient identification.

Health Assessment

The systematic collection of patient data through physical examination, history taking, and diagnostic testing to identify health needs and problems.

Pharmacology for Nurses

Study of drug actions, dosages, side effects, and interactions. Safe medication administration requires knowledge of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Pathophysiology

The study of physiological changes in the body caused by disease. Nurses use this knowledge to understand symptoms and provide appropriate care.

Therapeutic Communication

Interpersonal techniques that promote understanding and rapport between nurse and patient. Includes active listening, empathy, and open-ended questions.

Health Promotion

Activities and interventions designed to improve patient health and prevent disease. Includes patient education, lifestyle counseling, and screening programs.

Nursing Ethics

Moral principles guiding nursing practice: patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and confidentiality. Guides complex clinical decisions.

Worked Examples

Example 1: IV Drip Rate Calculation

Problem: Order: 1000 mL normal saline over 8 hours. Drop factor: 15 gtt/mL. Calculate drops per minute.

Solution:

Drops/min = (1000 mL × 15 gtt/mL) / (8 hr × 60 min) = 15000/480 = 31.25 ≈ 31 gtt/min

Example 2: Pediatric Dosage (Young's Rule)

Problem: Adult dose is 500 mg. Calculate dose for a 4-year-old child.

Solution:

Child dose = (Age / (Age + 12)) × Adult dose = (4/16) × 500 = 125 mg

Example 3: Body Surface Area

Problem: Calculate BSA for a patient weighing 70 kg and 170 cm tall.

Solution:

BSA = 0.007184 × 700.425 × 1700.725 = 0.007184 × 5.52 × 37.4 = 1.49 m²

Practice Problems

Problem 1

A patient is to receive 500 mL of IV fluid over 4 hours. The drop factor is 20 gtt/mL. Calculate the drip rate.

Answer: (500 × 20) / (4 × 60) = 10000/240 = 41.7 ≈ 42 gtt/min

Problem 2

Calculate BMI for a patient weighing 85 kg and 1.80 m tall. Classify the result.

Answer: BMI = 85/(1.8)² = 26.2 kg/m² (overweight)

Problem 3

Using Clark's Rule, calculate the dose for a child weighing 45 lbs if the adult dose is 300 mg.

Answer: (45/150) × 300 = 90 mg

Problem 4

A patient's vital signs: HR 110 bpm, BP 90/60 mmHg. Calculate MAP.

Answer: MAP = (90 + 2×60)/3 = 210/3 = 70 mmHg

Problem 5

Order: Heparin 5000 units SQ. Available: 10,000 units/mL. Calculate volume to administer.

Answer: (5000/10000) × 1 mL = 0.5 mL

Problem 6

A child is 18 months old. The adult dose of a medication is 400 mg. Use Fried's Rule to calculate the infant dose.

Answer: (18/150) × 400 = 48 mg

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