Putting It All Together (Take In Progressive Order) Flashcards
What do you do first?
Identify the patient
Ask their name
Ask their birthday
Next?
General appearance
You check their cleanliness, if they are dressed appropriately, if they’re alert and oriented, their mood (and if it fits the situation that they are in), and their behavior
Next?
Skin
You check their skin color, temperature, if it’s moist or dry, and capillary refill
Next?
Head
You check their symmetry, hair cleanliness and texture, lice, lumps, bumps, and lesions
Next?
Ears
You look at their symmetry, external ear, lumps, bumps, use the whisper technique
Next?
Eyes
You check their pupil size, if the pupil sizes are equal, if they look round.
You then check if the eyes are reactive to light, and their accommodation.
Next?
Nose
You check their symmetry, patency, and if they have drainage
Next?
Mouth + Throat
You check their lips, mucous membranes, tongue, and pharynx. You’d check their color, moisture, and if there are lesions.
You then check if their uvula is midline, tonsils (color, exudate, size),
You then check the teeth (missing, dental caries, dentures)
Next?
Lymph Nodes
You note their size, shape, mobility, and consistency.
Next?
Neck
You look for any jugular vein distention.
You assess their thyroid size, if it is midline, and use the bell of the stethoscope to listen for a bruit.
Next?
Respiratory System
Note AP diameter, chest excursion
Verbalize = listen to anterior (side by side), listen to posterior (side by side). Note rate and rhythm. Note deformities.
Verbalize in order how you would assess, auscultate, palpate, percuss
Next?
Cardiac
Verbalize cardiac landmarks while auscultating. Note rate, rhythm, and murmurs.
Next?
Abdomen
Verbalize correct order for assessment = assess, auscultate, percuss, palpate
Inspect if abdomen is flat, round, or distended
Next?
Musculoskeletal
Check their posture, gait/ walk, hand grips, pedal pushes
