Health Assessment Flashcards
How do you prepare a patient for a health assessment?
- provide privacy and adequate draping (gown)
- comfortable room temp
- warm blankets
How do you prepare the environment for an assessment?
- organized equipment
- soundproof room with adequate lighting
- easy to manuever exam table/bed
High Fowler’s
80-90 degrees
(sitting upright)
Semi Fowler’s
30-45 degrees
Fowler’s
45-60 degrees
(used for improved breathing)
Low Fowler’s
15-30 degrees
Trendelenburg Position
lower extremities higher than the head
used during abdominal surgeries
Reverse Trendelenburg
lower extremeties lower than the head
helps relieve intracranial pressure
Modified Trendelenburg
lower extremeties and head above the heart
helps with venous return
Health History
- biograhical data
- reason for seeking health care
- history of present health concern
- past health history
- family history
Functional Health Assesment
- assess ADLs (bathing, dressing, toileting)
- assess independent ADLs (meal prep, transportation, housekeeping)
Lifestyle Factors
- support system
- activity/exercise
- sleep/rest
- nutrition
- values/beliefs
- coping/stress
- substance use
- sexual history/orientation
- mental health status
What is the dorsal surface of hand used to assess?
Temperature
Which part of the hand is used to assess for masses, size, tenderness, pulses, and texture?
finger pads/palmar surface
Which part of the hand is used to assess vibration?
palm
What type will the lungs be?
types of sound during percussion
resonance
What will the scapula sound like?
types of sound during percussion
flat
What will the liver sound like?
types of sound during percussion
dull
What type of noise will the stomach make?
types of sound during percussion
tympanic
What is included in a general survey?
- general appearance and behavior
- vitals
- height and weight
Pallor
skin
- unusual paleness
- reduced level of oxygen in blood
- observe in face, buccal mucosa, nail beds
- for darker individual: skin becomes yellowish brown/ashen gray
Cyanosis
skin
- bluish tint
- increase in deoxygenated blood
- observe in lips, nail beds, conjunctivae, palms
Vitiligo
skin
loss of pigmentation
Jaundice
skin
yellowish tinge
indicates liver problem
Erythema
skin
redness
Hyperhidrosis
skin
excessive perspiration
Bromhidrosis
skin
foul smelling perspiration
Texture
skin
- smooth, soft, flexible
- older adult skin is wrinkled, leather
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
vascularity
- pallor
- cool skin
- absent leg hair
- no edema
- pins and needles sensation
- pulse weakened
- pain worsens with elevation
- dry wound
Causes of PAD
- smoking
- atherosclerosis
- high cholesterol
- obesity
- HTN
Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
vascularity
- bronze/brown color (iron in HMG)
- warm to touch
- normal leg hair
- edema (pooling of blood)
- normal sensation
- normal pulses
- improved pain upon eleation
- wet wound
Causes of CVI
- age
- obesity
- pregnancy
- blood clots
- smoking
Ecchymosis
vascularity
bruise
Petechiae
vascularity
small bruise patches
What is good skin turgor?
- instant, shows no dehydration
Edema
- fluid buildup in tissues, direct trauma or venous return impairment
1+
edema
2mm
2+
edema
4mm
3+
edema
6mm
4+
edema
8mm
Primary lesions
- macule (flat, altered color)
- papule (elevated, solid)
- pustule (acne)
- vesicle (varicella)
- nodule
- tumor
- wheal (allergy)
Secondary lesions
- scar
- keloid
- crust (secondary to vesicle)
- fissure
- erosion
- excoriation