LESSON 2 - PHYSICAL EXAM Flashcards
a skillful or efficient way
carrying out a particular task, especially the execution or performance of a scientific procedure.
TECHNIQUE
As for health assessment, techniques used are:
inspection,
palpation,
percussion and
auscultation.
an examination of the different body systems to
determine a person’s fitness.
Physical Examination
_______ are measures to
reduce the risk of transmitting infection from body fluids and non-intact skin (blood, secretions).
Standard Precautions
Conducting a physical assessment requires the incorporation of the following. These are essential for accurate data collection and patient safety.
- infection control practices
- assessment techniques
- patient positions
- equipment.
Nurses play infection control principles when caring for patients. Two levels of
infection control guidelines exist:
- Standard Precautions
- Transmission-Based Precautions
_______ are guidelines designed for the control of infections among patients with known or suspected infections caused by certain pathogens of epidemiologic significance (contact, droplet, airborne precautions).
Transmission-Based Precautions
Before starting a physical assessment, _________, which may include cotton balls, gloves, ophthalmoscope,
otoscope, penlight, percussion hammer, safety pins and stethoscope.
assemble the necessary
tools
it is considered to be the single most important action to reduce the transmission of infection and is the essential element of standard precautions. It is performed before and
after direct contact with patients and objects in the patient care
Hand Hygiene
It is used to auscultate sounds within the
body that are not audible with the naked ear.
Stethoscope
The ______ is used routinely for a physical examination.
acoustic stethoscope
The diaphragm consists of a flat surface with a rubber or plastic ring edge. It is used
to hear _____ sounds such as breath, bowel, and normal heart sounds.
high-pitched sounds
The acoustic stethoscope consists of four components:
the earpieces,
the binaurals,
tubing and
head
The head of the stethoscope consists of two components:
the diaphragm and the bell.
The bell stethoscope is constructed in a concave shape. It is used to hear ____
sounds such as extra heart or vascular sounds.
soft, low pitched sounds
It consists of the gauge to measure the pressure (manometer), a blood pressure cuff that encloses an inflatable bladder, a
pressure bulb with a valve used to manually inflate and deflate the bladder within the cuff.
Sphygmomanometer
A _____ is used in conjunction with the sphygmomanometer to auscultate the blood pressure.
stethoscope
It is used to measure the oxygen saturation in the arterial blood, consists of
light-emitting diode (LED) probe connected by a cable monitor.
Pulse Oximeter
The ____ emits light waves that reflect off oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin molecules circulating in the blood. This reflection is used to estimate the percentage of oxygen saturation in the
arterial blood and a pulse rate.
LED
In a snellen chart, the _____ of the recording
indicates the distance between the patient
and the chart.
top number
It is an instrument that has a light and several small lenses on it. You can
look through the lenses to examine one’s eye.
Ophthalmoscope
It is a wall chart hung at a distance of 20 feet from the patient. The chart consists of 11 lines of letters of decreasing size. The letter
size indicates the degree of visual acuity when read from a distance of 20 feet. The
patient is tested one eye at a time. Beside each line of letters is the corresponding
acuity rating that should be recorded (20/40, 20/100).
Snellen Chart
It is an instrument that measures the available range of motion at a joint.
Goniometer
In a snellen chart, the _____
indicates the distance at which a person with
normal vision should be able to read that line
of the chart.
bottom number
The art and science of measuring the joint ranges in each plane of the joint are
called _____.
goniometry
After assembling the necessary tools, move on to the first part of the physical assessment:
_______ and _______, including height, weight, and vital signs.
1, forming your initial impressions of the patient
2. obtaining his baseline data
It is a tool which shines a beam of light to help visualize and examine the condition of the ear canal and eardrum. Examining the ear can reveal the cause
of symptoms such as an earache, the ear feeling full, or hearing loss.
Otoscope
It is an acoustic resonator in the form of a two-pronged fork with the prongs formed from a U-shaped bar of elastic metal (usually steel).
It resonates at a specific
constant pitch when set vibrating by striking it against a surface or with an
object,and emits a pure musical tone once the high overtones fade.
Tuning Fork
It is used to detect and evaluate symptoms of retinal detachment or eye diseases
Ophthalmoscope
It is a small flashlight resembling a fountain pen in size or shape. It can
be used to check areas of the mouth and throat, examine wounds and to assess pupil response.
Penlight
It is composed of two blades and a handle. It is used to view the vaginal canal and cervix.
Vaginal speculum
Obtaining an accurate measurement of size is accomplished with a_____
Ruler and Tape Measure
It is a medical instrument used by practitioners to test deep tendon reflexes.
Percussion hammer
It is a medical tool used to examine the anterior part of the nose. It helps in enlarging the sinus area so that the exposed area can be clearly observed.
Nasal Speculum
These include blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature
VITAL SIGNS
is the use of touch to examine the area. It reveals
information about masses,
pulsation, organ size, tenderness or pain, swelling, tissue firmness and elasticity, vibration, temperature, moisture and variation in texture.
PALPATION
