Patient Preparation Flashcards
What are signs?
objective information detected by the physician
What are symptoms?
subjective information supplied by the patient
What is the purpose of diagnostic tests?
to confirm a diagnosis or to rule out other possible disorders
- helps formulate treatment plan or appropriate drug therapy
What is differential diagnosis?
determine correct diagnosis when two or more are possible
What is prognosis?
probably course and outcome of the disorder and the possibility of recovery
What are examples of subjective?
Chief complaint
family histories
What are examples of objective?
vital signs
weight and height
How do you emotional prepare a patient for an exam?
- explain exactly what will happen and what they will feel
- use simple language
- have a chaperone
How can you physical prepare the patient for an exam?
- offer the bathroom
- assist the patient to change into a gown
- provide a drape
What are some of the OSHA safety precautions?
- aseptic hand washing
- wear gloves
- wear mask to prevent exposure by airborne droplets
What is the sitting position? What is it good for?
sit up right, legs off the table
- knee reflexes
- listening to lungs
- apical pulse
What is supine position? What is it good for?
laying flat on the back with arms at the sides
- EKG
- abdominal exam
- administration of CPR
What is prone position? What is it good for?
laying on abdomen with arms above head
- back procedures
- bottoms of feet examination
- contraindicated in late-term pregnancy
What is fowlers position? What is it good for?
sitting with back of exam table at 90 degrees
- exams of eyes, ears, nose, throat, chest
What is semi-fowlers position? What is it good for?
seating, leaning against exam table at 45 degrees
- EKG
- chest exams
- COPD
- ear lavage
What is dorsal recumbent position? What is it good for?
laying flat on the back with knees bent
- EKG
- abdominal exam
- catheterizations
- genital exam of younger children
What is knee-chest position? What is it good for?
prone and bent at the waist, resting on knees, with arms above head
- gynecological and rectal exams
- treatment of spinal adjustments
- enema
What is lithotomy position? What is it good for?
laying flat on the table with butt at the end, feet resting in stirrups
- female pelvic exams
What is sims position? What is it good for?
laying on the left side, left leg slightly flexed, right leg flexed at 90 degrees
- exams involving the rectum
What is jack-knife (proctologic) position? What is it good for?
laying over the exam table that is lifted in the middle
- rectal exams
- sigmoidoscopy
What is Trendelenburg position? What is it good for?
legs elevated above head to force circulation to vital organs
- shock
What is inspection?
visual exam
What is auscultation?
listening to body sounds
What is palpation?
touch
What is percussion?
tapping or striking the body to hear sounds or feel vibration
What is mensuration?
process of measuring
What is manipulation?
moving of a patient’s body parts
- range of motion of joints
