Physical Assessment as a Screening Tool Flashcards
List several screening procedures
- Visual inspection
- skin and nail assessment
- Abdominal Screening procedures
- Fracture Screening
why is it important to screen the skin and nails for abnormal changes?
changes in skin and nails may be the 1st sign of inflammatory, infectious and immunologic disorders
T/F: new onset of skin lesions should be medically evaluated?
TRUE
especially in children
what is included in an integumentary visual inspection?
- inspect for:
- recent rashes, nodules, or other skin changes
- unusual hair loss or breakage
- increased hair growth (hirsutism)
- nail bed changes
- itching (pruritus)
skin should be assessed for what 6 things?
- texture
- color
- temp
- clubbing
- circulation
- edema
list changes in skin color to note
- pallor
- jaundice
- cyanosis
what can pallor indicate?
- anemia
- arterial insufficiency
- fainting
- shock
where should you inspect for jaundice? What can it indicate?
- where
- sclera
- conjunctiva
- lips
- hard palate
- tongue
- what can it indicate
- liver condition
- hematologic disorder
what can central cyanosis indicate?
- advanced lung disease
- CHF
- low hemoglobin
what can peripheral cyanosis indicate?
- CHF
- venous obstruction
- anxiety
- cold environment
- 1st observed in hands/feet, lips or nose
what is a change in skin temperature indicative of?
- indication of the vascular supply
Other signs of decreased vascularity?
- paresthesia
- muscle fatigue/discomfort
- cyanosis with numbness
- pain and loss of hair
things to keep in mind when assessing darker skin
- changes 1st noticed in:
- fingernails
- lips
- mucous membranes
- conjunctiva of eye and palms/soles in ppl with darker skin tones
List and describe the ABCDEs Critera
- Asymmetry → uneven edges, lopsided in shape, one-half unlike the other half
- Border → irregularity, irregular edges, scalloped or poorly defined edges
- Color → black, shades of brown, red, white, occasionally blue
- Diameter → larger than a pencil eraser (>6 mm)
- Evolving → mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color
follow-up questions if you suspect skin cancer after assessing a pt’s skin
- how long have you had this?
- has it changed in the last 6 weeks to 6 months?
- has you doctor seen it?
Name 3 specific rashes/skin lesions
- Dermatitis
- Herpes Zoster (Shingles)
- Rheumatologic diseases