BSc Nursing Viva Questions & Answers: Important Topics to Prepare

Candidates who have been studying in the BSc Nursing course program. They should focus on studying the fundamentals for the viva exam. Revise and work on the basic nursing skills. It includes patient care, medical knowledge, and ethics. Students should prepare topics like hand hygiene, patient positions, vital signs, CPR, fluid balance, and kidney functions. Candidates can answer the questions confidently in the viva exam. 

BSc Nursing Viva Topic: Principles of Infection Control and Hand Hygiene

Hand Hygiene Protocol

Hand hygiene is one of the most important steps in nursing. It helps prevent the spread of germs from one person to another.

• Main Purpose: Hand hygiene helps prevent infections and stops germs from spreading between patients.

• Steps: Rub both palms together, clean the back of each hand, rub between the fingers, and clean the thumbs properly.

• Patient Care: Nurses should follow proper hand hygiene and use safety measures based on the patient's condition, such as whether the patient is conscious or unconscious.

Difference Between Infection and Colonization

BSc Nursing Viva Topic: Therapeutic Patient Positioning and Its Importance

Oral Care for Unconscious Patients

• Correct Position: Side-Lying (Lateral) Position.

• Reason: An unconscious patient may not be able to swallow or cough properly. Keeping the patient on their side helps liquids and saliva flow out of the mouth. This reduces the risk of liquids entering the lungs, which is called aspiration.

Position for Patients with Breathing Problems

• Correct Position: Fowler's Position or Semi-Fowler's Position.

• Reason: In these positions, the patient's head and upper body are raised. This helps the lungs and diaphragm expand more easily. It can make breathing easier and reduce the effort needed to breathe.

BSc Nursing Viva Topic: Vital Signs Assessment and Clinical Instruments

Vital signs help nurses understand the basic condition of a patient's body. They are important for checking health and finding early signs of illness.

Blood Pressure (BP)

• Instrument Used: Sphygmomanometer.

• Common Reference Value: 120/80 mmHg.

Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the walls of the arteries.

• Systolic Pressure: The upper number, 120 mmHg, shows the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and pumps blood.

• Diastolic Pressure: The lower number, 80 mmHg, shows the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats.

• Hypertension: Blood pressure that is higher than the normal range.

• Hypotension: Blood pressure that is lower than the normal range.

Body Temperature

- Instrument Used: Thermometer.

Body temperature shows how hot or cold the body is. It helps nurses identify changes in a patient's health.

• Hyperthermia: A condition in which body temperature becomes higher than normal.

• Hypothermia: A condition in which body temperature falls below the normal range.

Pain Assessment

Pain is often called the fifth vital sign in nursing.

• Nurses check the patient's pain using pain rating scales.

• Patients may be asked to rate their pain from 0 to 10.

• Pain assessment helps nurses understand how much pain a patient has and plan suitable care.

BSc Nursing Viva Topic: Nursing Ethics and Patient Autonomy

Autonomy is the right of a person to make their own decisions about their healthcare. It includes the right to accept or refuse treatment.

What Should a Nurse Do If a Patient Refuses Treatment?

1. Talk to the patient politely and ask why they do not want the treatment or procedure.

2. Explain the purpose, benefits, and possible risks of the procedure in simple language.

3. Inform the doctor or senior nurse about the patient's decision, especially if there is a risk to the patient's health.

4. Record the patient's refusal and the steps taken in the patient's medical records.

5. Never force a competent patient to accept a procedure.

BSc Nursing Viva Topic: Renal Function and Fluid Balance Monitoring

Kidney Function and Urine Output

The kidneys help remove waste and extra water from the body. They also help maintain the balance of fluids and salts.

• Functional Unit of the Kidney: Nephron.

• Normal Daily Urine Output: Around 800 to 2,000 mL in 24 hours in many adults. The amount may change based on fluid intake and health conditions.

Fluid Intake and Output (I/O) Chart

An Intake and Output (I/O) chart is used to record the amount of fluid a patient takes in and passes out.

• Purpose: It helps nurses check the patient's fluid balance.

• When It Is Used: It is important for patients receiving IV fluids and those who need close fluid monitoring.

• Benefits: It helps identify dehydration, excess fluid in the body, and changes in kidney function.

Also Check: BSc Nursing Semester Wise Marks Distribution

BSc Nursing Viva Topic: Personal Protective Equipment and CPR Protocols

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) includes items worn by nurses and other healthcare workers to protect themselves and patients from germs and harmful materials.

Common PPE items include:

• Gloves

• Masks

• Gowns

• Eye protection

• Face shields

Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure used when a person has stopped breathing normally and has no signs of circulation.

• Pulse Check Site: Carotid artery in the neck, when a trained healthcare professional checks for a pulse.

• Pulse Check Duration: No more than 10 seconds.

• Main Purpose: To identify cardiac arrest quickly and avoid delays in starting CPR when needed.

If an adult is unresponsive and is not breathing normally, emergency help should be called and CPR should be started according to current resuscitation guidelines.