Clinical Nursing Skills Procedure

Vital Signs 

Assessing Body Temperature

Monitoring Temperature Using an Overhead Radiant Warmer

Using a Cooling Blanket

Assessing a Peripheral Pulse by Palpation

Assessing the Apical Pulse by Auscultation 

Assessing Respiration

Assessing Brachial Artery Blood Pressure

Health Assessment 

Performing a General Survey 

Using a Bed Scale 

Assessing the Skin, Hair, and Nails 

Assessing the Head and Neck 

Assessing the Thorax and Lungs 

Assessing the Cardiovascular System 

Assessing the Abdomen 

Assessing the Neurologic, Musculoskeletal, and Peripheral Vascular Systems

Safety 

Fall Prevention 

Implementing Alternatives to the Use of Restraints

Applying an Extremity Restraint 

Applying a Waist Restraint 

Applying an Elbow Restraint 

Applying a Mummy Restraint

Asepsis and Infection Control 

Performing Hand Hygiene Using Soap and Water (Handwashing)

Performing Hand Hygiene Using an Alcohol-Based Hand Rub

Preparing a Sterile Field Using a Packaged Sterile Drape

Preparing a Sterile Field Using a Commercially Prepared Sterile Kit or Tray

Adding Sterile Items to a Sterile Field

Putting on Sterile Gloves and Removing Soiled Gloves

Using Personal Protective Equipment

Medications 

Administering Oral Medications

Administering Medications via a Gastric Tube

Removing Medication from an Ampule

Removing Medication from a Vial

Reconstituting Powdered Medication in a Vial
Mixing Medications From Two Vials in One Syringe

Administering an Intradermal Injection

Administering a Subcutaneous Injection

Using an Insulin Pen to Administer Insulin via the Subcutaneous Route
Administering an Intramuscular Injection

Administering an Intramuscular Injection Without Using the Z-Track Technique
Administering Continuous Subcutaneous Infusion: Applying an Insulin Pump

Administering Medications by Intravenous Bolus or Push Through an Intravenous Infusion 

Administering a Piggyback Intermittent Intravenous Infusion of Medication 

Tandem Piggyback Setup
Administering an Intermittent Intravenous Infusion of Medication via a Mini-infusion Pump 

Administering an Intermittent Intravenous Infusion of Medication via a Volume-Control Administration Set

Introducing Drugs Through a Medication or Drug-Infusion Lock (Intermittent Peripheral Venous Access Device) Using the Saline Flush

Applying a Transdermal Patch

Instilling Eye Drops

Administering Eye Ointment
Administering an Eye Irrigation

Instilling Ear Drops

Administering an Ear Irrigation

Instilling Nose Drops

Administering Medication via Nasal Spray
Administering a Vaginal Cream

Administering a Vaginal Suppository
Administering a Rectal Suppository

Administering Medication via a Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI)

Using an MDI without a Spacer
Administering Medication via a Small-Volume Nebulizer

Administering Medication via a Dry Powder Inhaler

Perioperative Nursing 

Providing Preoperative Patient Care: Hospitalized Patient

Deep Breathing Exercises, Coughing, and Splinting

Provide patient teaching regarding leg exercises

Providing Preoperative Patient Care: Hospitalized Patient (Day of Surgery)

Providing Postoperative Care When Patient Returns to Room

Applying a Forced-Air Warming Device

Hygiene 

Hygiene on Patient Care
Giving a Bed Bath

Performing Perineal Cleansing
Giving a Bath Using a Disposable Self contained Bathing System
Assisting the Patient With Oral Care

Providing Oral Care for the Dependent Patient

Providing Denture Care

Removing Contact Lenses

Removing Different Types of Contact Lens
Shampooing a Patient’s Hair in Bed

Shampooing a Patients Hair in Bed
Shampooing a Patients Hair with a Shampoo Cap
Assisting the Patient to Shave

Making an Unoccupied Bed

Making a Bed With a Flat Bottom Sheet
Making an Occupied Bed

Skin Integrity and Wound Care 

Cleaning a Wound and Applying a Dry, Sterile Dressing

Applying a Saline-Moistened Dressing

Applying a Hydrocolloid Dressing

Performing Irrigation of a Wound

Collecting a Wound Culture

Applying Montgomery Straps

Caring for a Penrose Drain

Caring for a T-Tube Drain

Caring for a Jackson-Pratt Drain

Caring for a Hemovac Drain

Applying Negative Pressure Wound Therapy

Removing Sutures

Removing Surgical Staples

Applying an External Heating Pad

Applying a Warm Compress

Assisting With a Sitz Bath

Applying Cold Therapy

Applying an Electronically Controlled Cooling Device

Activity 

Effects of Immobility on The Body
Principles of Body Mechanics
Guidelines For Safe Patient Handling And Movement
Equipment and Assistive Devices
Assisting a Patient With Turning in Bed

Moving a Patient Up in Bed With the Assistance of Another Nurse

Using Full Body Sling to Reposition Patient
Transferring a Patient From the Bed to a Stretcher

Transferring a Patient From the Bed to a Chair

Transferring a Patient Using a Powered Full-Body Sling Lift

Providing Range-of-Motion Exercises

Assisting a Patient With Ambulation

Assisting a Patient With Ambulation Using a Walker

Assisting a Patient With Ambulation Using Crutches

Assisting a Patient With Ambulation Using a Cane

Applying and Removing Antiembolism Stockings

Applying Pneumatic Compression Devices

Applying a Continuous Passive Motion Device

Applying a Sling

Applying a Figure-Eight Bandage

Assisting With Cast Application

Caring for a Cast

Applying Skin Traction and Caring for a Patient in Skin Traction

Caring for a Patient in Skeletal Traction

Caring for a Patient with an External Fixation Device

Comfort 

Promoting Patient Comfort

Giving a Back Massage

Applying and Caring for a Patient Using a TENS Unit

Caring for a Patient Receiving Patient-Controlled Analgesia

Caring for a Patient Receiving Epidural Analgesia

Caring for a Patient Receiving Continuous Wound Perfusion Pain Management

Nutrition 

Sources, Functions, and Significance of Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fat
Clinical Observations for Nutritional Assessment
Assisting a Patient with Eating

Inserting a Nasogastric (NG) Tube

Administering a Tube Feeding

Using a Prefilled Tube Feeding Set (Closed System)
Removing a Nasogastric Tube

Caring for a Gastrostomy Tube

Urinary Elimination 

Assisting With the Use of a Bedpan

Assisting With the Use of a Urinal

Assisting With the Use of a Bedside Commode

Assessing Bladder Volume Using an Ultrasound Bladder Scanner

Applying an External Condom Catheter

Catheterizing the Female Urinary Bladder

Intermittent Female Urethral Catheterization
Catheterizing the Male Urinary Bladder

Intermittent Male Urethral Catheterization
Removing an Indwelling Catheter

Performing Intermittent Closed Catheter Irrigation

Administering a Continuous Closed Bladder Irrigation

Emptying and Changing a Stoma Appliance on an Ileal Conduit

Caring for a Suprapubic Urinary Catheter

Caring for a Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter

Caring for a Hemodialysis Access (Arteriovenous Fistula or Graft)

Bowel Elimination 

Administering a Large-Volume Cleansing Enema

Administering a Small-Volume Cleansing Enema

Administering a Retention Enema

Digital Removal of Stool

Applying a Fecal Incontinence Pouch

Changing and Emptying an Ostomy Appliance

Applying a Two Piece Appliance
Irrigating a Colostomy

Irrigating a Nasogastric Tube Connected to Suction

Oxygenation 

Using a Pulse Oximeter

Teaching Patient to Use an Incentive Spirometer

Administering Oxygen by Nasal Cannula

Administering Oxygen by Mask

Using an Oxygen Hood
Using an Oxygen Tent

Suctioning the Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal Airways

Nasotracheal Suctioning
Inserting an Oropharyngeal Airway

Inserting a Nasopharyngeal Airway
Suctioning an Endotracheal Tube: Open System

Suctioning an Endotracheal Tube: Closed System

Securing an Endotracheal Tube

Suctioning the Tracheostomy: Open System

Providing Tracheostomy Care

Cleaning a Nondisposable Inner Cannula
Using Alternate Site Dressing if Commercially Prepared Sponge is Not Available
Securing a Tracheostomy With Ties/Tape
Providing Care of a Chest Drainage System

Caring for a Chest Drainage System Using Dry Seal or Suction
Assisting With Removal of a Chest Tube

Using a Handheld Resuscitation Bag and Mask

Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid–Base Balance 

Initiating a Peripheral Venous Access IV Infusion

Changing an IV Solution Container and Administration Set

Monitoring an IV Site and Infusion

Changing a Peripheral Venous Access Dressing 802

Capping for Intermittent Use and Flushing a Peripheral Venous Access Device

Capping a Primary Line When No Extension Tube is in Place
Administering a Blood Transfusion

Changing the Dressing and Flushing Central Venous Access Devices

Accessing an Implanted Port

Deaccessing an Implanted Port

Removing a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC)

Cardiovascular Care 

Obtaining an Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Applying a Cardiac Monitor

Obtaining an Arterial Blood Sample From an Arterial Line Stopcock System

Obtaining an Arterial Blood Sample From a Closed Reservoir System
Removing Arterial and Femoral Lines

Performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Performing Emergency Automated External Defibrillation

Performing Emergency Manual External Defibrillation (Asynchronous)

Using an External (Transcutaneous) Pacemaker

Neurologic Care 

Logrolling a Patient

Applying a Two-Piece Cervical Collar

Employing Seizure Precautions and Seizure Management

Caring for a Patient in Halo Traction

Caring for a Patient with an External Ventriculostomy (Intraventricular Catheter–Closed Fluid-Filled System)

Caring for a Patient With a Fiber Optic Intracranial Catheter

Laboratory Specimen Collection 

Testing Stool for Occult Blood

Performing a Digital Rectal Examination to Obtain a Stool Specimen for Occult Blood
Collecting a Stool Specimen for Culture

Obtaining a Capillary Blood Sample for Glucose Testing

Obtaining a Nasal Swab

Obtaining a Nasopharyngeal Swab

Collecting a Sputum Specimen for Culture

Collecting Sputum Specimen via Endotracheal Suctioning
Collecting a Urine Specimen (Clean Catch, Midstream) for Urinalysis and Culture

Obtaining a Bagged Urine Specimen for Urinalysis from an Infant or Young Child
Obtaining a Urine Specimen From an Indwelling Urinary Catheter

Using Venipuncture to Collect a Venous Blood Sample for Routine Testing

Obtaining a Venous Blood Specimen for Culture and Sensitivity

Obtaining an Arterial Blood Specimen for Blood Gas Analysis