Fundamentals of Nursing for NORCET: Topics, MCQs | NPrep

Fundamentals of Nursing (FON) for NORCET covers procedures, infection control, vital signs, drug administration and nursing ethics. In NORCET 10 Prelims it had only about 4 direct questions by candidates' recall, but its concepts sit inside most clinical questions in every subject. Learn it as the base for Medical-Surgical and OBG scenarios.

Updated 5 November 2026. The exam pattern is from AIIMS Notice 103/2026. Question counts are NPrep's analysis of the NORCET 10 Prelims paper as recalled by candidates; AIIMS publishes no subject weightage. Clinical facts follow standard nursing textbooks and WHO guidance.

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Fundamentals of Nursing in NORCET at a glance

Item	Detail	Source
Stages where it appears	Stage I (80 nursing questions) and Stage II (160 nursing questions)	Notice 103/2026
Direct FON questions, NORCET 10 Prelims	About 4 of 100	NPrep analysis, candidates' recall
Hidden FON content	Infection control, drug calculation, positioning and documentation inside other subjects' scenarios	NPrep analysis
Question style	Procedure steps, priorities, "first action" scenarios	NPrep analysis
Negative marking	Minus 1/3 per wrong answer	Notice 103/2026

How important is Fundamentals of Nursing for NORCET?

More than its direct count suggests. AIIMS does not publish weightage, and in NORCET 10 Prelims candidates recalled only about 4 questions labelled FON. But a Medical-Surgical scenario about a post-operative patient often turns on positioning, a drug-dose calculation or an infection-control step, which are FON topics. Stage II has 160 nursing questions focused on case scenarios, so these basics carry into Mains too.

Study FON first, quickly, then revise it inside the other subjects rather than as a separate block.

What are the high-yield FON topics for NORCET?

Area	Topics to know
Infection control	WHO 5 moments of hand hygiene, standard and transmission-based precautions, PPE donning and removal order, sterilisation and disinfection, biomedical waste segregation
Vital signs	Normal ranges by age, pulse sites, blood pressure errors (cuff size), temperature routes, pain assessment
Drug administration	Rights of medication administration, routes, injection sites and angles, IV flow-rate and dose calculations
Procedures	Catheterisation, enema, nasogastric tube insertion and placement check, wound care, specimen collection
Positioning and mobility	Fowler's, Trendelenburg, Sims', lithotomy, prone; pressure ulcer staging and prevention
Nursing process	Assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation; Maslow's hierarchy for priorities
Basic life support	Adult CPR: compressions first, 30:2, 100 to 120 a minute, 5 to 6 cm deep
Ethics and documentation	Consent types, patient rights, confidentiality, legal aspects of records

Our NORCET syllabus and exam pattern page lists the topics for every subject.

Which FON formulas should I memorise for NORCET?

Calculation	Formula
Tablet or liquid dose	Desired dose ÷ dose on hand × quantity
IV drip rate (drops per minute)	Volume (mL) × drop factor ÷ time (minutes)
IV flow rate (mL per hour)	Volume (mL) ÷ time (hours)
Body mass index	Weight (kg) ÷ height (m)²

Worked example: 1,000 mL of normal saline over 8 hours with a 20-drop set is 1,000 × 20 ÷ 480 = about 42 drops a minute.

What does a NORCET FON question look like?

Practise this style:

A nurse is about to enter the room of a patient on contact precautions. In what order should the nurse put on personal protective equipment?

A. Gloves, gown, mask, goggles B. Gown, mask, goggles, gloves C. Mask, gloves, gown, goggles D. Goggles, mask, gloves, gown

Answer: B. The gown goes on first and the gloves last, so the gloves can cover the gown's cuffs. Removal runs roughly the other way, starting with gloves, because they are the most contaminated.

How should I prepare FON for NORCET?

1. Week 1: read the procedure and infection-control chapters from one standard textbook, such as Potter and Perry's Fundamentals of Nursing.
2. Every day after that: 20 FON questions mixed into your other subjects' practice.
3. Calculations: five dose or drip-rate problems a day until you get them right in under a minute.
4. Before the exam: revise the normal ranges, formulas and PPE order from a one-page sheet.

For which books to use, see best books for NORCET.

FAQs

How many Fundamentals of Nursing questions come in NORCET?

AIIMS publishes no subject weightage. In NORCET 10 Prelims, candidates recalled about 4 direct FON questions out of 100, but FON concepts such as infection control and drug calculations also appear inside other subjects' scenarios.

Is Fundamentals of Nursing asked in NORCET Mains?

Yes. Stage II has 160 nursing questions focused on case scenarios, and procedures, infection control and dose calculations are tested inside those scenarios.

Which book is best for Fundamentals of Nursing for NORCET?

Potter and Perry's Fundamentals of Nursing, or Kozier and Erb's Fundamentals of Nursing, for concepts. Pair it with topic-wise MCQs rather than reading the whole book.

What is the drip rate formula for NORCET?

Drops per minute equal the volume in mL multiplied by the drop factor, divided by the time in minutes. For 1,000 mL over 8 hours with a 20-drop set, that is about 42 drops a minute.

What to read next

• Up: NORCET syllabus and exam pattern
• Across: OBG nursing for NORCET and Community Health Nursing for NORCET
• Practice: free NORCET mock test