purposes of a physical assessment
-establish the patient's current condition
-identify problems
-evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions
-monitor for changes in body function
-detect body systems that need further assessment or testing
levels of physical assessments
-comprehensive health assessment
-focused assessment
-initial head-to-toe shift assessment
comprehensive health assessment
includes a medical history and a complete physical examination
focused assessment
assessment conducted to assess a specific problem; focuses on pertinent
history and body regions
initial head-to-toe assessment
A quick overall assessment of patient's condition to establish a baseline
when to perform a physical assessment
-on admission: comprehensive and in-depth
-at beginning of each shift
-when the patient's condition changes
-when evaluating the effectiveness of nursing care
-whenever things do not feel right
signs
, -uses the four senses
-produces objective and measurable evidence
symptoms
-evidence of illness or injury that is verbalized by the patient
-the findings are subjective
inspection
the act of examining or reviewing
percussion
tapping on a body part
auscultation
Listening with a stethoscope
palpation
to examine by touch
olfaction
sense of smell
information obtained in the patient history
-personal identity
-details regarding the pt's current condition
-medical history
-social history
-food and drug allergies
-height and normal weight
-expectations for hospitialization
-current medications
head-to-toe assessment includes
-vital signs, including pain
-appearance
-establish the patient's current condition
-identify problems
-evaluate the effectiveness of nursing interventions
-monitor for changes in body function
-detect body systems that need further assessment or testing
levels of physical assessments
-comprehensive health assessment
-focused assessment
-initial head-to-toe shift assessment
comprehensive health assessment
includes a medical history and a complete physical examination
focused assessment
assessment conducted to assess a specific problem; focuses on pertinent
history and body regions
initial head-to-toe assessment
A quick overall assessment of patient's condition to establish a baseline
when to perform a physical assessment
-on admission: comprehensive and in-depth
-at beginning of each shift
-when the patient's condition changes
-when evaluating the effectiveness of nursing care
-whenever things do not feel right
signs
, -uses the four senses
-produces objective and measurable evidence
symptoms
-evidence of illness or injury that is verbalized by the patient
-the findings are subjective
inspection
the act of examining or reviewing
percussion
tapping on a body part
auscultation
Listening with a stethoscope
palpation
to examine by touch
olfaction
sense of smell
information obtained in the patient history
-personal identity
-details regarding the pt's current condition
-medical history
-social history
-food and drug allergies
-height and normal weight
-expectations for hospitialization
-current medications
head-to-toe assessment includes
-vital signs, including pain
-appearance
