Nursing fundamentals notes with clinical focus

This file contains a condensed and practical guide to Nursing Fundamentals, structured into 30 pages of highly focused notes ideal for review, reference, or NCLEX preparation. The content blends theory with clinical relevance, giving students an all-in-one foundational overview of what’s most frequently tested or applied in care settings.

Topics Included:

• Nursing Process (ADOPIE): from assessment through evaluation, with goal-setting and planning strategies.

• Ethical & Legal Foundations: including autonomy, beneficence, accountability, HIPAA, and informed consent.

• Cultural Competence and communication principles: therapeutic vs non-therapeutic dialogue, family-centered care.

• Medication Administration: 6 rights, dosage calculation formulas, and administration routes (IM, IV, PO, SubQ).

• Pain Types & Management: pharmacologic (opioids, non-opioids) and non-pharmacologic methods (guided imagery, heat, etc).

• Head-to-Toe Assessment: a structured breakdown by region (neurological, respiratory, abdominal, cardiovascular).

• Safety Protocols: RACE & PASS for fire, fall prevention, restraint types, and seizure response guidelines.

• Vital Signs & Interpretation: ranges by age, measurement methods, oxygenation, and pulse oximetry tips.

• Infection Control & PPE: standard and transmission-based precautions, plus donning/doffing order.

• Wound Care & Skin Integrity: wound healing phases, pressure injury staging, and types of drainage.

• Urinary and Bowel Elimination: catheter types, ostomy care, and incontinence classifications.

• Electrolyte Imbalances: symptoms, lab values, and causes of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ abnormalities.

• Health Promotion, Nutrition, Community Health, documentation methods (SOAP, PIE, narrative), and more.

Document Details:

• Pages: 30

• Format: PDF

• Content Type: Summary notes with diagrams, conversions, clinical tips, and safety checklists

• Best For:

  • First-year and second-year nursing students

  • NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN candidates

  • Skills lab and clinical check-off reference

  • Nursing assistants reviewing basics

Commonly used in:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

• Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse programs (LPN/LVN)

Course Tags:

• Fundamentals of Nursing

• Introduction to Nursing Practice

• Basic Clinical Nursing Skills

• Health Assessment

• Nursing Foundations