Nursing · Staff Nurse · BFUHS

Punjab Staff Nurse Exam Preparation (BFUHS and Health Department): High-Yield Nursing Topics and Strategy

Staff nurse posts in Punjab's government health institutions are filled through recruitments that have been conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, on behalf of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, as well as by other recruiting bodies. The written test is mainly about nursing knowledge, with some general awareness. This guide lists the high-yield nursing topics and a study plan.

By PunjabExams Editorial Team · Updated 29 October 2026 · 6 min read · How we prepare guides

Before you start: read the notice

Staff nurse recruitments specify:

• Qualification: usually B.Sc. Nursing or GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) from a recognised institution, with registration with the Punjab Nurses Registration Council.
• Punjabi at matriculation level and the Punjabi qualifying requirement for state posts.
• Exam pattern: number of questions, marks, negative marking and the share of nursing versus general questions.

Make a one-page summary of the notice, and keep your registration certificate valid and ready.

High-yield subject 1: Fundamentals of nursing

• Vital signs and normal adult values: temperature about 36.5–37.5 °C; pulse 60–100 per minute; respiration 12–20 per minute; blood pressure around 120/80 mmHg.
• Infection control: hand hygiene (the single most effective measure), standard precautions, sterilisation and disinfection, biomedical waste segregation by colour code.
• Patient safety: the "rights" of medication administration — right patient, drug, dose, route and time (often extended to right documentation and others); use at least two identifiers for patient identification.
• Positions: Fowler's (sitting up), Trendelenburg (head low), lithotomy, prone, Sims' (left lateral).
• Bed sores (pressure ulcers): stages and prevention by turning every two hours.

High-yield subject 2: Medical-surgical nursing

• Cardiovascular: hypertension, myocardial infarction (chest pain, ECG changes, cardiac enzymes), heart failure.
• Respiratory: asthma, COPD, pneumonia, tuberculosis (DOTS and the National TB Elimination Programme).
• Endocrine: diabetes mellitus — signs of hypoglycaemia (sweating, tremors, confusion) versus hyperglycaemia; insulin types.
• Renal: acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, dialysis care.
• Fluid and electrolytes: dehydration, normal serum sodium (about 135–145 mEq/L) and potassium (about 3.5–5.0 mEq/L).
• Pre- and post-operative care: consent, nil by mouth, monitoring after anaesthesia.

High-yield subject 3: Pharmacology and drug calculations

Drug calculations appear in almost every nursing paper. Learn the formula:

Dose to give = (Desired dose ÷ Dose on hand) × Quantity

Example: the order is 500 mg and the tablet strength is 250 mg, so give 2 tablets.

IV flow rate (drops per minute) = (Volume in mL × drop factor) ÷ time in minutes. For 1,000 mL over 8 hours with a drop factor of 20: (1,000 × 20) ÷ 480 ≈ 42 drops per minute.

Also revise antidotes (naloxone for opioids; vitamin K for warfarin; atropine for organophosphate poisoning), and common drug classes and side effects.

High-yield subject 4: Obstetric and gynaecological nursing

• Normal pregnancy: about 280 days (40 weeks) from the last menstrual period; Naegele's rule for the expected date of delivery (LMP + 7 days − 3 months + 1 year).
• Antenatal care: at least four visits, tetanus–diphtheria immunisation, iron and folic acid.
• Stages of labour (first: cervical dilatation; second: delivery of the baby; third: delivery of the placenta; fourth: the first hour after delivery).
• Danger signs: bleeding, eclampsia, obstructed labour; postpartum haemorrhage management.
• Schemes: Janani Suraksha Yojana, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram.

High-yield subject 5: Child health nursing

• Normal birth weight about 2.5–4 kg; low birth weight is below 2.5 kg.
• APGAR score (appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration), assessed at 1 and 5 minutes.
• Breastfeeding — exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
• Immunisation schedule under the Universal Immunisation Programme (BCG, OPV, hepatitis B at birth, pentavalent, rotavirus, measles-rubella and so on).
• Dehydration management with ORS and zinc.

High-yield subject 6: Community health and mental health nursing

• Levels of prevention (primary, secondary, tertiary).
• The health care delivery system: sub-centre/Ayushman Arogya Mandir, primary health centre, community health centre, district hospital.
• National health programmes and the role of ASHA and ANM workers.
• Mental health: common disorders, therapeutic communication, the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.

A 10-week study plan

Key points to remember

• Qualification: B.Sc. Nursing or GNM with registration with the Punjab Nurses Registration Council.
• Normal adult values: pulse 60–100/min, respiration 12–20/min, BP around 120/80 mmHg, sodium about 135–145 mEq/L, potassium about 3.5–5.0 mEq/L.
• Dose = (Desired ÷ On hand) × Quantity; drip rate = (volume × drop factor) ÷ minutes.
• Naegele's rule: LMP + 7 days − 3 months + 1 year.
• APGAR at 1 and 5 minutes; low birth weight below 2.5 kg.
• Hand hygiene is the single most effective infection-control measure.
• Antidotes: naloxone (opioids), vitamin K (warfarin), atropine (organophosphates).

Practice questions

1. Q1. The single most effective measure to prevent hospital-acquired infections is:

   • (a) Wearing a gown
   • (b) Hand hygiene
   • (c) Antibiotic prophylaxis
   • (d) Isolation of all patients
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Hand hygiene — Hand hygiene interrupts the most common route of transmission.

2. Q2. The order is 500 mg and each tablet contains 250 mg. How many tablets should be given?

   • (a) 1
   • (b) 1.5
   • (c) 2
   • (d) 4
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) 2 — 500 ÷ 250 = 2 tablets.

3. Q3. 1,000 mL of IV fluid is to run over 8 hours with a drop factor of 20 drops/mL. What is the approximate flow rate?

   • (a) 21 drops/min
   • (b) 31 drops/min
   • (c) 42 drops/min
   • (d) 63 drops/min
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) 42 drops/min — (1,000 × 20) ÷ 480 ≈ 41.7, i.e. about 42 drops per minute.

4. Q4. Naloxone is the antidote for overdose of:

   • (a) Paracetamol
   • (b) Opioids
   • (c) Warfarin
   • (d) Insulin
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Opioids — Naloxone reverses opioid overdose.

5. Q5. The APGAR score is assessed at:

   • (a) Birth and 24 hours
   • (b) 1 and 5 minutes after birth
   • (c) 10 and 20 minutes after birth
   • (d) Only at discharge
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) 1 and 5 minutes after birth — APGAR is recorded at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.

6. Q6. A newborn is considered low birth weight if the weight is less than:

   • (a) 2.0 kg
   • (b) 2.5 kg
   • (c) 3.0 kg
   • (d) 3.5 kg
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) 2.5 kg — Low birth weight is defined as below 2,500 g.

7. Q7. The patient position with the head end of the bed raised is called:

   • (a) Trendelenburg
   • (b) Fowler's
   • (c) Prone
   • (d) Lithotomy
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Fowler's — Fowler's position has the head end raised, which helps breathing.

Frequently asked questions

Who conducts staff nurse recruitment in Punjab?

Recruitments for the Department of Health and Family Welfare have been conducted through BFUHS, and other bodies have run recruitments for other institutions. The notification names the recruiting body each time.

Is GNM eligible for staff nurse posts?

GNM and B.Sc. Nursing are the usual qualifications, together with registration with the state nursing council. Check the notification for the exact requirement.

How important are drug calculations?

Very. They appear regularly, are easy marks with practice and test real clinical safety.

Practise staff nurse MCQs All preparation guides