Physical Examination

Examining a patient

When examining a patient, you should :

1.
Introduce your self, if necessary.
2.
Brief the patient on what she/he should expect
in a clear and simple way.
3.
Instruct the patient in a clear but polite manner.
4.
Show sensitivity to the patient�s needs and
respond to discomfort, reassuring if appropriate.
5.
Talk the patient through the procedure.
6.
Share your findings with patient.
Introduce your self , if necessary

�
Good morning, I�m Dr. John.
�
Good afternoon, I�m Dr. Made. I�m doctor on
duty in this ward.
Brief the patient on what she/he should
expect in a clear and simple way.

�
Do you know what we are going to do this
morning ?
�
What we�re going to do today is ..................
�
I�m going to examine your ......so I can find out
what causing this.............
�
What we do is................
�
I�ll ask you to................
�
Are you ready ?
Instruct the patient in a clear but
polite manner.

When examining patient, polite forms are often

used for the initial instruction:

�
Could you
bend forward as far as you can ?
�
If you cou
ld cross your arms in front of your
chest.
�
What I�d like to do
is examine you standing
up.
Instruct the patient in a clear but
polite manner.

After that direct instructions may be used :

�
Stand
with your feet together.
�
Lie
perfectly still.

To soften an instruction:

�
Can you just
turn to the side again?
�
Could you just
lie on the couch ?
Verb used in instructions

Bend down

Look straight ahead

Look at something

Slide your hand down

your
side

Breath in

Breath out

Open your
mouth

Slipp off your coat

Close your eyes

Point to the finger that

move

Stand
straight

Stand up

Curl
up

Pull as hard as you

can

Take off your top things

Do this
Push as hard as you can

Tilt your head back

Follow my fingertip with

your eyes

Put your head down

Put out your tongue

Touch your shoulder with

your chin

Keep your knee straight

Raise your leg

Turn your head to the left

Turn
on your side

Let your wrist go floppy

Roll on
to your back /front

Roll over

Roll up your sleeve

Relax..

Lie
on your side / back

Lie on the bed/ couch

Lie down
Sit

Sit up
Show sensitivity to the patient�s need and
respond to discomfort, reassuring if
appropriate.

�
You might feel a little bit of discomfort.
�
This might hurt a little but I�ll be quick.
�
Tell me if it hurts.
�
Let me know if it�s sore.
�
It will be over very quickly.
�
It won�t take long.
�
You�re doing very well.
Talk the patient through the
procedure.

�
I�m just going to.................
�
First I�ll...........
�
Then I�ll............
�
Now, I�m going to ...............
�
You I�ll feel ..........
�
I would like you to.......
�
Thats it. All over.
Share your findings with the patient.

�
Well, I�m fairly certain you�ve got a ..................
�
One possibility is it could be what we call.........
�
I haven�t found anything to suggest any
problem.
�
Based on physical examination that I just
performed, I found...............
Let�s practice guys.......

1.
...............straight ahead and.........your nose
with your right forefinger; then with your left
forefinger.
2.
.............on the edge of the couch and...........
your legs hanging loosely.
3.
..............your eyelids thightly.
4.
.............all your clothes ..............down to
your underwear.
5.
..............your chest with your chin.
Let�s practice guys.......

6.
..................slowly and look over your left
shoulder.
7.
...................on your side.
8.
...................looking at me.
9.
...............................your sleeve.
10.
..........................the pin, not the light.
Any questions ?