Health Assessment Flashcards
what is done in a comprehensive assessment and when is it performed?
health history and complete physical examination
- usually conducted when pt first comes in
Ongoing partial assessment
conducted at regular intervals
What is the focus of ongoing partial assessments?
concentrates on identified health problems to monitor positive and negative changes
Focused assessment
conducted to assess a specific problem
How does a nursing health assessment differ from other types of health assessments?
it is a holistic collection of information about factors that affect or are affected by one’s level of health
What is a health history?
collection of subjective data that provides a detailed profile of the patient’s health status
What does conducting a health assessment involve?
collecting and analyzing subjective and objective data to determine overall level of physical, psychological, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual health of a pt.
How do you assess awareness?
Orientation times 3:
1) Time
2) Place
3) Person
What is consciousness?
the degree of wakefulness or the ability of a person to be aroused
What are the levels of consciousness?
- Awake and alert
- Lethargic
- Stuporous
- Comatose
what is a physical assessment?
the systematic collection of objective information
What kind of sounds is the bell of a stethoscope used for?
low-pitch (heart and vascular system)
What is the sequence of techniques used to assess the abdomen?
1st: Inspect
2nd: Auscultate
3rd: Percuss
4th: Palpate
What type of sounds is the diaphragm of the stethoscope used for?
High-pitch (normal heart sounds, bowel, breath)
What is an ophthalmoscope?
lighted instrument used to visualize the interior structures of the eye.
What is an otoscope?
lighted instrument used to examine the external ear canal and the tympanic membrane
What are the primary techniques used for assessment?
- inspection
- palpation
- percussion
- auscultation
When does inspection of the patient begin?
with initial contact
What part of the hand is used for gross measurement of temperature?
dorsum (back) and fingers
What part of the hand is used to assess texture, shape, fluid, size, consistency and pulsation?
palmer (front) surface of the fingers
What part of the hand is used to assess vibrations?
palm
What is percussion?
the act of striking on object against another to produce sound
What is auscultation?
the act of listening with a stethoscope to sounds produced within the body
What is erythema?
redness of the skin
what is cyanosis?
bluish or grayish discoloration of the skin in response to inadequate oxygenation
What is jaundice?
yellowing of the skin resulting from liver and gallbladder abnormalities