The How Of Physical Assessment (Can Take In Any Order)

Question 1

How do you check someone’s identity?

Answer 1

Ask their name
Ask their birthday

Question 2

How do you check someone’s general appearance?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

How do you check someone’s skin?

Answer 3

You check their skin color, temperature, if it’s moist or dry, and capillary refill

Question 4

How do you check someone’s head?

Answer 4

You check their symmetry, hair cleanliness and texture, lice, lumps, bumps, and lesions

Question 5

How do you check someone’s ears?

Answer 5

You look at their symmetry, external ear, lumps, bumps, use the whisper technique

Question 6

How do you check someone’s eyes?

Answer 6

You check their pupil size, if the pupil sizes are equal, if they look round.
You then check if the eyes are reactive, reactive to light, and their accommodation.

Question 7

How do you check someone’s nose?

Answer 7

You check their symmetry, patency, and if they have drainage

Question 8

How do you check someone’s mouth and throat?

Answer 8

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)

Question 9

How do you check the lymph nodes?

Answer 9

You note their size, shape, mobility, and consistency.

Question 10

How do you check their neck?

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

How do you check their respiratory system?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

How do you check their cardiac system?

Answer 12

Verbalize cardiac landmarks while auscultating. Note rate, rhythm, and murmurs.

Question 13

How do you check their abdomen?

Answer 13

Verbalize correct order for assessment = assess, auscultate, percuss, palpate
Inspect if abdomen is flat, round, or distended

Question 14

How do you check their musculoskeletal system?

Answer 14

Check their posture, gait/ walk, hand grips, pedal pushes