Assessment & Assessment Tools Flashcards
What is an Assessment?
- Assessment of the older person differs from a younger person as it is more complex, more detailed and will likely take longer to complete.
- Signs and Symptoms of common conditions often present differently in older people compared to younger people.
- Holistic assessment is the assessment of the whole person rather than focusing on disease/ functionality alone.
- For older people in particular, we need to focus on social complexity.
Comprehensive assessments should be interprofessional.
Why do we assess and what for?
- Help nurses and other health care professionals to objectively and subjectively identify the needs and concerns of people and their families.
- Timely and appropriate holistic nursing assessment is critical to patient safety.
- CNO Nursing assessment as part of scope of practice
What kind of data do we collect?
Objective Data
- Vitals
- Labs
Subjective Data
- Pain assessment
- Cognitive data
- Discharge planning (starts the minute you assess them)
Collect data on
- Social support
- Info on their home
Comprehensive holistic assessment
Cultural
Psychological
Psychosocial
Physical
Environmental
Safety considerations
Higher risk for falls
When to collect the data?
- Whenever possible collect the data when the older person is at their best
- Focus on collecting priority data
Collect info when they are at their best
How do we collect data?
- Verbally
- Interview / ask questions
- Observation
- Physical assessment
- Conversation
- Assessments will include quantitative and qualitative data
*Do not interpret data whilst collecting data - Risk of making assumptions
From whom do we collect the data?
- Self-report
- Report by proxy: Going to only represent the view of the proxy
- Direct observation
Is an assessment tool the same as a screening tool?
No it is not the same tool.
Screening tool:
- is a process for evaluating the possible presence (ie risk) of a particular problem.
- The outcome is normally a simple yes or no to identify those in need of further evaluation.
- Generally brief and narrow in scope.
- Example of screening tools: PHQ-9 - Depression and SI
- Fall Risk Assessment Tool
- COVID-19 assessment tool
Assessment tool:
- Is a more comprehensive process for defining the nature of that problem, determining a diagnosis, and developing specific treatment recommendations/ care plan for addressing the problem or diagnosis.
Types of Assessments and Tools
Health history
- Physical assessment
- Comprehensive assessments
- Social support assessments
- Standardized Assessments
Performance Assessment:
- Mental Status Assessment:
- Social Support Assessment:
Health history
Marks the beginning of the nurse-patient/ client relationship, requires excellent relational skills
- Profile
- Past medical history
- Review of systems and symptoms
- Medication history
- Family history
- Social history
Physical assessment
Prioritize assessment
- Vital signs
- Mobility - falls
- Lab results
Comprehensive assessments
“FANCAPES”
- Fluids
- Aeration
- Nutrition
- Communication
- Activity
- Pain
- Elimination
- Socialization
Social support assessments
Beers assessment
- Standardized Assessments
Functional assessment:
- Activities of Daily Living (Katz index)
- Toileting
- Eating
- Ambulation
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Grooming
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
- Cleaning
- Yard work
- Shopping
- Money management
- Performance Assessment:
Objective measurement of performance
- Grip strength - Reduced muscle mass
- Shuttle test - Rehabilitation
- Timed walk - Rehabilitation
- Balance test - Falls