📑 Chapter Breakdown:

1. Introduction to Nursing
2. Nursing Process
3. Fundamentals of Nursing Care
4. Patient Hygiene and Activities of Daily Living
5. Medication Administration and Safe Drug Handling
6. Vital Signs Monitoring & Basic Clinical Procedures
7. Nursing Care for Specific Health Conditions
8. Care of Special Populations
9. Health Education and Communication Skills
10. Professional Development
11. Community Health Essentials

📆 Writing Plan:
Each chapter will be developed sequentially, allowing you to review, suggest edits, and make the
content usable as we progress.

📖 Chapter 1 – Introduction to Nursing

Definition
Nursing is both an art and a science involving caring for the sick, preserving health, preventing
disease, and aiding recovery. It blends compassion, medical knowledge, and ethical conduct.

Florence Nightingale defined nursing as:

“Putting the patient in the best possible condition for nature to act upon him.”

Simply put, nursing means fulfilling a patient’s physical, mental, and social needs to enhance
their health.

Concepts of Nursing

1. Holistic care: addressing body, mind, and spirit

2. Disease prevention via health education
3. Promoting healthy lifestyles
4. Independent and collaborative work
5. Ethics and patient confidentiality
Objectives of Nursing

 Provide comfort and safety

 Support medical treatment
 Identify and respond to problems early
 Offer emotional support to patients and families
 Promote patient self-reliance

Characteristics of Nursing

 Service-oriented
 Responsible
 Knowledge-based
 Ethical
 Disciplined

Scope of Nursing
Includes hospital nursing, community health nursing, school nursing, geriatric care, psychiatric
nursing, and emergency care.

Principles of Nursing

1. Respect for every patient

2. Prioritizing individual patient needs
3. Preventing infection through hygiene
4. Following care plans
5. Maintaining patient confidentiality

Ethical Principles

 Veracity (truthfulness)
 Non-maleficence (do no harm)
 Beneficence (act in patient’s best interest)
 Justice (fair and equitable treatment)
 Autonomy (respecting patient decisions)

History in India

 Ancient India’s Ayurvedic tradition described “paricharak” (attendants).

 Modern nursing began in the 1850s with Florence Nightingale. Kolkata’s first nursing
school started in 1867.
 The Indian Nursing Council (INC) was established in 1947.
 Today, nursing includes higher education, research, and specialized fields.
Summary
Nursing is a caring, responsible, and knowledge-based profession that not only treats disease but
promotes overall health, with a historic legacy and expanding scope in India.

Visual Example: Nursing Process Cycle

[Assessment] → [Diagnosis] → [Planning] → [Implementation] → [Evaluation]

📖 Chapter 2 – Nursing Process

Definition
A systematic, scientific, patient-centered method that helps nurses identify patient problems, find
solutions, and plan care. It includes five steps:

1. Assessment
2. Diagnosis
3. Planning
4. Implementation
5. Evaluation

1. Assessment
Collect data through patient interviews, family input, medical records, and physical exams. Data
is subjective (symptoms) or objective (vital signs, wounds).

2. Nursing Diagnosis
Define the patient’s actual or potential health needs (e.g., risk of infection, pain).

3. Planning
Develop prioritized care plans with short-term and long-term goals (e.g., reduce pain within 24
hours).

4. Implementation
Carry out the treatment plan—administer medications, perform procedures, offer education and
emotional support.

5. Evaluation
Assess if goals were met. If not, revise the plan and repeat the process.

Benefits

 Patient-centered care
 Organized workflow
 Easy documentation
 Progress tracking
 Team coordination
Cycle Diagram Reminder
[Assessment] → [Diagnosis] → [Planning] → [Implementation] → [Evaluation] → Repeat

Summary
A five-step cyclical framework that ensures structured and effective nursing care.

📖 Chapter 3 – Fundamentals of Nursing Care

Introduction
These are routine tasks essential for patient comfort, safety, and recovery.

1. Admission, Transfer & Discharge

 Admission: registration, bed assignment, baselines, medical records

 Transfer: between wards for procedures, emergencies
 Discharge: doctor’s clearance, discharge instructions

2. Therapeutic Environment
Focus on light, temperature, cleanliness, quiet, ventilation to support healing.

3. Communication Skills
Verbal, non-verbal, written methods—active listening, empathy, clarity.

4. Record Keeping
Charts for admissions, medical notes, drug charts, daily progress, etc.

5. First Aid
Immediate care (e.g., bandaging, CPR, cooling burns).

Safety & Hygiene Principles

Maintain infection control, proper use of equipment.

Admission Checklist Table

1. Record patient details

2. Check vitals
3. Allocate bed
4. Take nursing history
5. Notify the doctor

Summary
These daily tasks are the foundation of nursing practice, establishing safe and respectful care.
📖 Chapter 4 – Patient Hygiene & Activities of Daily Living

Introduction
Respecting dignity and preventing infection are central in personal hygiene.

1. Bed Making
Clean, wrinkle-free sheets using open, closed, postoperative, or burn beds.

2. Bathing
Types: sponge, tub, shower, bed bath. Maintain dignity, temperature (~37°C), cleanliness.

3. Feeding the Patient

Position patient upright (~45°), clear communication, document intake, watch for allergies and
swallowing issues.

4. Elimination
Assist with bedpans, urinals, commode chairs; maintain hygiene and privacy.

5. Oral, Nail, Hair Care

Clean mouth, cut nails, comb hair, reduce infection risk.

6. Changing Clothes
Maintain privacy and comfort while dressing.

Summary
Delicate routines handled with care preserve dignity, hygiene, and accelerate healing.

📖 Chapter 5 – Medication Administration & Safe Drug Handling

Introduction
Safe medication practice supports treatment efficacy and patient safety.

1. The 10 Rights of Medication Administration

Patient, Drug, Dose, Route, Time, Documentation, Reason, Response, Education, Refusal.

2. Routes
Oral, IV, IM, Sub-Q, Inhalation, Topical.

3. Dosage Calculation
E.g., for a 500 mg dose with 250 mg/5 ml available: give 10 ml.

4. Documentation
Record dose, time, route, patient reaction; cover missed doses.
5. Monitoring Side Effects
Watch for nausea, allergies, hypotension, anaphylaxis—all require immediate action.

6. Storage & Safety

Store drugs properly, monitor expiry, use locked cabinets for controlled medications.

7. Ethical Responsibilities
Obtain informed consent, educate patients, report errors, never conceal mistakes.

Summary
Applying the 10 Rights and vigilant monitoring ensures effective, safe medication practice.

📖 Chapter 6 – Vital Signs Monitoring & Basic Clinical Procedures

Introduction
Monitoring vital signs and performing basic procedures are critical nursing duties.

1. Vital Signs

 Temperature: 36.5–37.3 °C
 Pulse: 60–100 BPM
 Respiration: 12–20 breaths/min
 Blood Pressure: 90/60 to 120/80 mmHg
 Additional: SpO₂, pain scale

2. Wound Dressing
Clean with sterile technique, date & time dressings.

3. Specimen Collection
Collect urine, blood, stool, sputum with sterile containers + proper labeling.

4. Catheter Care
Prevent infection, ensure tubing remains patent, monitor output.

5. Blood Glucose Monitoring

Use glucometer, sanitize finger, document reading.

6. Oxygen & Nebulization

Administer through cannula/mask; nebulize as required.

Summary
Accurate monitoring, hygiene, and documentation are vital for patient safety and care.
📖 Chapter 7 – Nursing Care for Specific Health Conditions

Introduction
Tailored care is needed based on the disease’s nature.

1. Infectious diseases
TB, typhoid, dengue, hepatitis—requires isolation, PPE, education, hydration, DOT for TB.

2. Metabolic & Endocrine Disorders

Diabetes, thyroid, Addison’s disease—monitor glucose, administer insulin, watch for
hypo/hyperglycemia, diabetic foot care.

3. Burn Injuries
From thermal, chemical, electrical sources—use sterile dressing, manage fluids, control pain,
prevent infection; report severe burns.

4. Eye, ENT Conditions

Cataracts, conjunctivitis, otitis media, tonsillitis—administer drops, care post-surgery, maintain
hygiene.

Infection Control
Hand hygiene, safe disposal, educating families.

Summary
Condition-specific knowledge and prompt nursing actions are essential alongside emotional
support.

📖 Chapter 8 – Care of Special Populations

Introduction
Different groups—elderly, children, psychiatric patients, perioperative, and end-of-life—require
individualized care.

1. Geriatric Nursing
Treat osteoporosis, sensory impairments, dementia respectfully. Prevent falls, support nutrition
and emotional needs.

2. Pediatric Nursing
Ensure parental presence, weight-based dosing, immunization, reduce fear with play, maintain
infection control.

3. Psychiatric Nursing
Address depression, psychosis, schizophrenia, OCD with active listening, observe cues for self-
harm, maintain confidentiality.
4. Pre-/Post-Operative Care

 Pre: assess vitals, explain procedure, fast instructions

 Post: monitor consciousness, bleeding, control pain, fluids, dressings

5. End-of-Life Care
Offer dignified comfort, pain relief, emotional support, respect culture and family wishes.

6. Mortuary Procedures
Confirm death, document, clean body respectfully, tag and transfer.

Summary
Care sensitive to each group’s unique needs ensures respect, safety, and dignity.

📖 Chapter 9 – Health Education & Communication Skills

Introduction
Beyond treatment, empowering patients and communities with health knowledge is vital.

1. Health Education
Informs and inspires preventive behavior through topics like nutrition, hygiene, family planning,
immunization, and disease prevention.

2. Education Methods

 Individual counseling
 Group discussions
 Posters and models
 Video/audio tools
 Folk performances for rural outreach

3. Effective Communication
Include verbal, non-verbal, written, and visual methods; emphasize clarity, empathy, active
listening, trust, and confidentiality.

4. Therapeutic Communication
Allow patients to voice concerns, reflect emotions, use silence, and avoid criticism or unsolicited
advice.

5. Educating Patients & Families

Explain care, wound care, medication, follow-up, and reduce confusion and fear.

6. Cultural & Language Sensitivity

Understand local customs, languages, and beliefs when providing education.
Summary
Empowering communication and education strengthens patient well-being and health outcomes.

📖 Chapter 10 – Professional Development & Community Health Basics

Part A: Professional Development

1. Ethics
Practice empathy, honesty, confidentiality, respect, and responsibility in alignment with INC
standards.

2. Legal Aspects
Understand informed consent, avoid negligence, protect confidentiality, maintain proper
documentation, and follow medical orders.

3. Continuing Education & Career Growth

Stay updated through CNE, workshops, seminars; pursue higher education like [Link], [Link], or
specialty courses.

4. Leadership & Teamwork

Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, take initiative, and ensure quality care.

Summary
Professional growth involves ethics, legal responsibility, continuous learning, and leadership.

Part B: Community Health Basics

1. Community Nursing
Provides care at homes, schools, and public spaces through health education, immunization, and
disease prevention.

2. Home-Based Care
Supports elderly, disabled, postpartum patients with primary care and advice.

3. Public Health Campaigns

Participates in initiatives like polio, leprosy awareness, family planning, and sanitation programs.

4. Role in Primary Health Centers (PHCs)

Monitor pregnant women, vaccinate children, reduce maternal/infant mortality, and refer patients
as needed.

5. Traditional vs. Modern Approaches

Combine household remedies, traditional healers, with scientific methods like vaccination and
sanitation programs.
Summary
Community nursing plays a crucial role in prevention, education, and health promotion in
society.

📚 Final Summary:

General Nursing (Samanya Paricharya) is more than clinical skills—it’s a blend of compassion,
ethics, and lifelong learning. Nurses are healers, educators, leaders, and advocates, essential to
the health of individuals and communities.