Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Physics After successful completion of NSG1410 the student should be able to use the SI system of units in nursing applications: apply the laws of mechanics to nursing applications; do simple vector additions graphically; make measurements on and do calculations for simple electrical circuits, including use of electric meters and the cathode-ray oscilloscope; describe various applications of electricity and magnetism to diagnosis and therapy in nursing practice; recognise electrical hazards, understand the purpose of insulation and earth wires. Chemistry After successful completion of NSG1410 the student should be able to discuss basic chemistry of body tissues, body fluids, kidney functions and respiration; list the first twenty elements in the Chemist's Table, discuss their occurrence in the human body and use simple ideas of atoms, ions and molecules; describe the ionic compositions of body fluids; describe and explain diffusion, active transport, osmosis and osmolarity; describe kidney function in terms of filtration and reabsorption or excretion; describe the role of the kidney in control of blood pressure, salt, water and acidity; use chemical ideas to describe transport and exchange of respiratory gases; perform pH measurements on solutions representing body fluids and interpret them.
Synopsis The subject is designed to give students a basic introduction to the areas of physics and chemistry detailed in the syllabus below, as they are relevant to modern nursing practice. Students are not expected to have a strong background in these areas and thus the topics will be treated in limited depth. The material covered in lectures will be supported and extended by tutorials and laboratory work. Syllabus Physics SI units, basic measurement concepts in nursing. Force as a vector, mass and weight, centre of mass, equilibrium, levers, pulleys, inclined plane. Applications to muscles, lifting, bed adjustments, traction systems. Electrical quantities and units, and their measurement, the multimeter, simple circuits, AC and DC, frequency, mains voltage, batteries, generators, transformers. Electrical safety, electric shock, insulation, fuses, electrical wiring standards. Electronics in nursing - cathode ray oscilliscope, chart recorders, biological amplifiers, sensors, feedback, computers. Bioelectricity, electrodiagnosis, electrotherapy - EEG, ECG, EMG, pacemakers, defibrillators, diathermy. Chemistry The first twenty elements in the Chemist's Table, their occurrence in the human body and simple ideas of atoms, ions and molecules formed by covalent bonding. Ideas of molecules, ions and cells to describe compositions of body fluids. Diffusion, active transport, osmosis and osmolarity. Kidney function in terms of filtration of blood into tubules, reabsorption of water, ions, and nutrients allowing excretion of nitrogenous wastes. Control of blood pressure, salt, water and acidity. Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, pulmonary respiration and cellular respiration, haemoglobin and myoglobin. pH measurements on solutions of components of body fluids and interpret them. Buffer mixtures compared with distilled water.
Assessment Examination: 70% + Laboratory assessment: 30%