BASICS OF HOME NURSING

NURSING

•‘The act of utilizing the environment of the

patient to assist him in his recovery’
•Clean, well ventilated quiet environment.
•First nurse theorist.
•No longer untrained housekeepers.
•But educated in the care of sick.

- Florence Nightingale
 NURSING

‘The unique function of nurse is to assist the

individual sick or well, in the performance of those
activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to a
peaceful death) that he would perform unaided if he
had the necessary strength, will or knowledge’.
Virginia Henderson (modern
nurse)
 NURSE

•Definition of nurse is to go above and beyond

the call of duty. The first to work and last to leave.

•The heart soul of caring.

•The unique soul who will pass through your life for
a minute and impact it for eternity.

•A empowered individual whom you meet for 12

hour period, but who will put you and yours above
theirs.
 QUALITIES OF A NURSE

‘DO NOT DO UNTO OTHERS, WHAT YOU DON’T

WANT OTHERS DO UNTO YOU’

- GOLDEN RULE
 HOME NURSING

Home nursing can be defined as functioning of a

nurse, in one’s own home, taking care of the
establishment and reducing the intensity and
the frequency of sickness to the barest
minimum.
OBSERVATION OF PATIENT & VITAL
SIGNS.
 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

•It is made to understand & study the

patient’s condition. This can be achieved by
signs & symptoms.

•Symptoms. Collected from patient.

•Signs:
•Seeing
•Feeling
•Hearing
•Smelling
•Touching
 IMPORTANCE OF OBSERVATION

• Helps in observing patient’s general condition.

• Helps in diagnosis.

• Evaluation of treatment if possible.

• Progress of patient’s condition can be studied

by observing breathing, sleeping pattern etc.,

• Intake & output pattern can be studied by

Observation.
TOOLS USED IN OBSERVATION

•Clinical thermometer

•B.P. Apparatus
TEMPERATURE
 TEMPERATURE

• When the body’s heat mechanism is damaged,

there is a rise in temperature above normal is
called FEVER.

• Normal body temperature is 98.4 degree F or 37

degree C
 METHODS OF TAKING
TEMPERATURE

•Oral (by Mouth)

•Skin (by Axilla)

•Rectum (Unconscious persons, Heat

stroke & Children)

PARTS OF THERMOMETER
 VARIATION OF TEMPERATURE
IN HEALTH

Decrease Increase

• Starvation
• After taking food

• Exposure to cold
• Exposure to heat

• During sleep
• Mental excitement

• Muscular activities
• Hyperthyroidism
 VARIATION OF TEMPERATURE
DURING SICK

Decrease Increase

• Bleeding
• Infection

• Shock
• Metabolic disorder
• Collapse
• Dehydration

• Septicemia • Disturbed heat

regulating center
 TYPES OF FEVER
• Constant fever ( not > 2 degree )

• Remittent fever ( > 2 degree )

• Intermittent fever ( normal or subnormal)

• To high within a interval of 24 hrs to 2 –3 days)

• Irregular fever (not corresponding to any of the

Above)

• Crisis ( sudden fall in temp which touches normal)

eg. Malaria & UTI

• Lysis ( gradual fall in temp) eg. Typhoid

PULSE
 PULSE

• The measure of Heart Beat is called pulse.

• Each Pulse denotes the contraction of heart or

Otherwise known as Cardiac Cycle.

• The pulse may be felt at any point where an artery

Passes superficially over a bone.
 FACTORS AFFECTING THE RATE
OF PULSE

• Age
• Sex
• Exercise
• Excitement
• Disease condition
• Medication
 NORMAL PULSE RATES

• 1yr - 120beats / min

• 2 – 5yrs - 100 beats / min
• 5 – 10yrs - 90 beats / min
• Adults - 72 – 80 beats / min
• Old age pulse is usually slow.
• But in extreme old age pulse becomes fast.
TERMS USED IN DEFINING A
PULSE

•Rate
•Rhythm
•Volume
•Abnormal pulse
• Rapid
• Slow
 TYPES OF PULSE

• Tachycardia (abnormal increase in heart rate

>12/min)
• Bradycardia (abnormal decrease in heart rate
<50/min)
RESPIRATION
 RESPIRATION

• Respiration consists of inspiration, expiration & a

pause.
• Normal respiration is rhythmical, quiet, regular &
comfortable.
 HOW DO YOU COUNT
RESPIRATION

•Patient should not be aware.

•Count the pulse for one full minute without

taking fingers off the wrist.

•Now slowly count the movement of the chest

for another full minute.

BLOOD PRESSURE
 BLOOD PRESSURE

It is the amount of pressure which the blood

exerts against the walls of arteries.
FACTORS AFFECTING BLOOD
PRESSURE

• Force of heart beat.

• Elasticity of the muscles in the blood vessel

walls.

• Volume of blood circulation.

 TYPES OF BLOOD PRESSURE

• Systolic blood pressure. It is the highest

pressure exerted due to contraction of heart.

• Diastolic blood pressure. It is the minimum

pressure exerted by the blood inlarger
arteries at the end of systole.
 HOW DO YOU READ BLOOD
PRESSURE

• Systolic blood pressure reading is always

Written over the diastolic.

• For Example
• Systolic BP - 120mm hg
• Diastolic BP - 80mm hg
• The reading is written as - 120/ 80mm hg

• Low BP - 100/60 mmhg

• High BP - 130/90 mmhg.

 VITAL SIGNS

•Pupil reaction
•Level of consciousness
•Skin colour
•Ability to move
•Reaction to pain
•Any discharge from ear, nose & eyes.
PREPARATION OF SICK ROOM
 SICK ROOM

•Light
•Colour
•Sound (noise)
•Climate (21 to 23 degree centigrade)
•Humidity (45 to 60 %)
•Ventilation
•Care & cleanliness of room
•Articles for the sick room
MEDICINE ADMINISTRATION
MEDICINE ADMINISTRATION

•Right patient
•Right time
•Right drug
•Right dose
•Right route
USES AND APPLICATION OF
BANDAGING
 BANDAGE

A bandage is along piece

of thin cloth, which is
wrapped around an
injured part of the body.
 BANDAGE IS MADE OF WHAT?

• FLANNEL
• CALICO
• ELASTIC
• NET
• SPECIAL PAPER
 PURPOSES

• Apply direct pressure over the

dressing to control bleeding.

• Retain dressings & splints in

position.

• Prevent or reduce swelling.

• Provide support to a limb or joint.

• Restrict movement.

• Assist in lifting & carrying

casualty.
 TYPES

•Triangular bandage
•Roller bandage
 TRIANGULAR BANDAGE

•Triangular bandages is made by cutting

diagonally a square piece calico 100cms,length.
•So two triangular bandages are formed.
•It has 3 borders.
•Longest is called base & other 2 sides.
•There are 3 corners, the one opposite the
base is called the point & the other two are called
ends. Poin
t

ends base ends

USES TRIANGULAR BANDAGE

•Whole bandage

•As broad bandage

•Narrow bandage
TYING THE BANDAGE REEF KNOT
(PROCEDURE)
 USES & TYPES OF SLINGS

• To provide support & rest to the arm.

Types
• Arm sling – arm & fore-arm.

• Collar & cuff sling – wrist & restrict

movement at the elbow joint.

• Triangular sling – to treat fracture of the collar

bone, we have to keep hand raised high up
giving relief from pain.
 USES OF TRIANGULAR BANDAGE
TO SECURE DRESSING.

• Scalp • Hand
• Fore • Back
head
• Wrist
• Eye
• Hip
• Chest
• Knee
• Back
• Foot
•
Shoulder • Ankle &
• Elbow stump.
 ROLLER BANDAGES

Roller bandages are generally used in hospitals

& to provide first aid in emergency.
 PURPOSES OF ROLLER
BANDAGES.

• Secure dressing to cover the wounds.

• Exert pressure in treatment of haemorrhage.

• Provide support in case of sprains.

• To lessen swelling (in sprains & strains)

• To secure splints in cases of fracture.

• To provide warmth to correct deformity.

 PARTS OF ROLLER BANDAGES

•Rolled part – Head

•Unrolled part – Tail

 WIDTH OF ROLLER BANDAGES

• IS MADE UP OF VARIOUS LENGTH&

WIDTH ACCORDING TO THE PART
APPLIED:-
• 1” – FINGERS & TOES
• 1.5 TO 2” - HANDS
• 2 TO 2.5” - FOOT & FORE ARM
• 3 TO 4” - LEG, THIGH & UPPER
ARM
• 4” - BREAST SPICA
• 6” - AUXILLARY & TRUNK
RULES OF APPLYING ROLLER
BANDAGES

•Select correct size bandage.

•Face the casualty.
•Support the parts which is to be bandaged.
•Fix the bandage by taking two circles.
•Bandage from below, upward over the limb.
•Apply bandage from inner side to outer side
•Cover2/3rd of previous turn with each fresh turn

leaving 1/3 round of the bandage uncovered.

•Bandaging is neither too loose nor too tight.
 RULES OF APPLYING ROLLER
BANDAGES

• Fix the bandage either by pinning it up or

• by using adhesive plaster or by a reef knot.
• Never apply the knot or pin over a bone or
• wound.
• While removing the bandage loosen the
• end & pass the bandage up into the hands.
• Never apply a wet bandage as it shrink &
• become too tight on drying except in case
• of sprain.
RULES OF APPLYING ROLLER
BANDAGES
 METHODS OF APPLYING ROLLER
BANDAGES.

• Simple spiral

• Reverse spiral

• Figure of eight

• Spica
THANK YOU