Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. Definition of nursing
The diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual and potential health problems.
2. Nursing process
1. Nursing process composed of 5 phases.
1. Assessment
2. Nursing diagnosis
3. Planning
4. Intervention
5. Evaluation
2. Nursing assessment
Is the first stage of the nursing process in which the nurse should carry out a complete and holistic
nursing assessment by obtaining a health history and performing a physical examination to the patient.
• During emergency.
- Nurses.
- Doctors.
- Physiotherapists.
- Nutritionists.
- Social workers.
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5. Purpose of assessment
1. To validate a diagnosis
6. Types of Assessment
1. Initial assessment
3. Emergency Assessment
4. Time-lapsed Assessment
7. Comprehensive
• Detailed assessment of one body system or many body systems. including those not directly involved
in presenting problem or admission diagnosis
9. Focused
• Abbreviated assessment that focuses on one or more body systems that are the focus of care
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• Includes an assessment related to a specific problem (e.g., pneumonia, specific abnormal laboratory
findings)
• Provide an in-depth, comprehensive database for evaluating changes in the client's health stans in
subsequent assessments
2. Problem-focused assessment
• Have a narrower scope & a shorter time frame than the initial assessment.
3. Emergency assessment
• Takes place in life-threatening situations.
• Patient difficulties involve airway, breathing and circulatory problems (the ABCs).
• Abrupt changes in self-concept (suicidal thoughts) or roles or relationships (social conflict leading to
violent acts) can also initiate an emergency.
A: AIRWAY:
B. BREATHING:
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C:CIRCULATION
Assess tissue perfusion by checking pulses, skin temperature and color of the extremities.
• Time lapsed reassessment takes place after the initial assessment to evaluate any changes in the
patient functional health.
1. Collection of data
- Validation of data
2. Organization of data
3. Recording/documentation of data
- Subjective data
• Also known as symptoms, are collected by interviewing the patient and or caregiver during the nursing
history.
• This type of data includes information that can be described or verified only by the patient or
caregiver. It is what the person tells you either spontaneously or in response to direct questioning.
- Objective data
• Also known as signs are data that can be observed or measured. You obtain this type of data using
inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation during the physical examination.
• Objective data are also acquired by diagnostic testing. Usually subjective data are obtained by
interview, and objective data are obtained by physical examination.
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1. Interviewing
. 2. Examining
3. Observing
4. Head-to-toe approach
-Techniques
-examination
-techniques
-auscultation
-assessment
For example, use the palmar surface (base of fingers) to feel vibrations. the dorsa (backs) of your hands
and fingers to assess temperature, and tips of your fingers to palpate the abdomen.
• The bell of the stethoscope is more sensitive to low pitched sounds (e.g.,heart murmurs). The
diaphragm of the stethoscope is more sensitive to high-pitched sounds
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• Record complete information and details for all client symptoms or experiences
2. Reason for visit/Chief complaint - primary reason why client seek consultation or hospitalization.
3. History of present Illness - includes: usual health status, chronological story, family history, disability
assessment.
4. Past Health History- includes all previous immunizations, experiences with illness.
5. Family History-reveals risk factors for certain disease diseases (Diabetes, hypertension, cancer, mental
illness).
21. Positions
Each position has it's specialty for parts of examination. Draping during assessment is used to prevent
unnecessary exposure. Drapes may be paper, cloth, or bed linens
I. Sitting position
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V. Sims' position
1. Sitting position
• Areas Assessed.
Head and neck, back, posterior thorax and lungs, anterior thorax and lungs, breasts, axially, heart, vital
signs, and upper extremities
• Rationale:
Sitting upright provides full expansion of lungs and provides better visualization of symmetry of upper
body parts.
• Limitations:
Physically weakened client may be unable to sit. Examiner should use supine position with head of bed
elevated instead.
2. Supine position
• Areas Assessed
Head and neck anterior thorax and lungs, breasts, we, heart, abdomen, extremities, and pulse
• Rationale: This is most normally relaxed position. It prevents contracture of abdominal muscles and
provides easy access to pulse sites.
3• Dorsal position:
• Areas Assessed.
Head and neck, anterior thorax and lungs, Breasts, axillae and heart.
• Rationale.
Clients with painful disorders are more comfortable with knees flexed.
4. Lithotomy position:
• Areas Assessed.
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• Rational.
This position provides maximal exposure of genitalia and facilitates insertion of vaginal speculum.
5. Sims' position:
• Areas Assessed: Rectum and vagina
6. Prone position:
Knee-chest position :
- The patient's self-report of pain is the single most reliable indicator of pain.
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• Location(s)
• Intensity
• Sensory quality
• Following the administration of pain medications to determine the effectiveness of the medication
and/or need for further intervention.
1. Acute
2. Chronic
1. Somatic
2. Visceral
3. Bone Pain
4. Neuropathic
.• Acute pain presents most often with a clear cause, relatively brief in duration and subsides as healing
takes place.
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• Examples are broken bones, strep throat, and pain after surgery or injury
- Chronic Pain
• When pain persists, it serves no useful purpose and may dramatically decrease the quality of life and
function.
• Chronic pain rarely has any observable or behavioral signs although persons may appear anxious or
depressed.
• Frequently undertreated
• Aggressive treatment
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• May be attributed to :
- Tumor location
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Surgical treatment
1. Somatic
2. Visceral
3. Bone Pain
4. Neuropathic
1- Somatic
• Source: Skin, muscle, and connective tissue
• Pain med: Most pain meds will help, if severe, need a stronger medication
2- Visceral
• Source: Internal organs
• Description: Not localized, refers, constant and dull, less affected with movement
3- Bone Pain
• Source: Sensitive nerve fibers on the outer surface of bone
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4- Neuropathic :
• Source: Nerves
2. Disturbed sleep
6. Skin ulcers
7. Incontinence
2. Negative Vocalization
3. Facial Expression
4. Body Language
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1. At admission
Neurological Assessment
4. Ever had/or do you have seizures? (when did they start, frequency. course and duration, motor
activity associated with, associated signs, postictal phase, precipitating factors, medications, coping
strategies)
6. Any difficulty speaking? (forming words or actually saying what you intended)
9. Any significant past neurologic history? (cerebral vascular accident, spinal cord injuries, neurologic
infections, congenital disorders)
10. Environmental or occupational hazards? (insecticides, lead, organic solvents, illicit drugs, alcohol)
(Jarvis, 2008)
3- Cranial Nerves III, IV, & VI: Oculomotor, Trochlear, & Abducens
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Look for :
2. Hair distribution
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Look for:
1. Visual acuity
Look for:
3. Tympanic membrane [color & characteristics (amber, redness). air fluid levels]
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Look for:
5. Uvula (midline)
Look For:
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7. Auscultate in a Z-pattern listening over the aortic, pulmonic, mitral, and tricuspid valves and over
Erb's point). Listen to S1 and S2 separately (split S1 or S2).
8. Palpate peripheral pulses: brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, dorsalis pedis, posterior tibial (strength
and symmetry).
2. Do you frequently get short of breath? (position, associated night sweats, related to any triggering
event)
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4. Any past history of breathing trouble or lung disease? (frequency and severity of colds, allergies,
asthma family history, smoking. environmental or occupational risk factors).
5. Have patient breath slightly deeper than normal through their mouth
6. Auscultate from C-7 to approximately T-8, in a left to right comparative sequence. You should
auscultate between every rib.
8. Identify any adventitious breath sounds, in relation to the cardiac cycle (crackles and wheezes or
rhonchi).
3. Any nausea or vomiting? (color, odor, presence of blood, food intake in past 24 hours)
4. Any change in bowel habits? (constipation, diarrhea, blood in stool, or dark, tarry stools)
6. Any past history of abdominal problems? (gall bladder, liver, pancreas, digestion, elimination
1. Inspect for bulges, masses, hernias, ascites, spider nevi, veins, pulsations or movements, inability to
lie flat.
2. Auscultate after inspection so you do not produce false bowel sound through percussion or palpation.
Auscultate for bowel sounds (normal, hyper- or hypo-active) and bruins
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3. Percuss for general tympany, liver span, splenic dullness (dullness over the spleen), costovertebral
angle tenderness, presence of fluid wave and shifting dullness with ascites.
46. Nutritional-Metabolic
1. Describe your usual daily food and fluid intake.
47. Elimination
1. Describe the frequency and time of day you have bowel movements, What is the consistency of the
bowel movement?
5. Do you need any assistive equipment, such as ostomy equipment, raised toilet seat, commode?
48. Activity-Exercise
Do you have limitations in mobility that make it difficult for you to procure and prepare food?
49. Sleep-Rest
1. Do you experience any difficulty sleeping because of a GI problem?
2. Are you awakened by symptoms such as gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea,or heartburn?
• Pylorus
• Duodenum
• Head of pancreas
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• Spleen
• Stomach
• Body of pancreas
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• Right ureter
• Sigmoid flexure
•Left ureter
54. Mouth
- Moist and pink lips
- Pink and moist buccal mucosa and gingivae without plaques or lesions
- Pink uvula (in midline), soft palate, tonsils, and posterior pharynx
55. Abdomen
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- Generalized tympany
56. Anus
- Absence of lesions, fissures, and hemorrhoids
- No masses
Subjective
Ask the patient about any of the following and note responses
1. Loss of appetite
2. Abdominal pain
4. Nausea, vomiting
5. Painful swallowing
Objective: Diagnostic
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Inspect
- Skin for color, lesions, scars, petechiae, etc.
Auscultate
Bowel sounds
Palpate
- Abdominal quadrants using light touch
2. Any stiffness in your joints? Any swelling, heat or redness in your joints?
1. Inspect the size and shape of any problem joints (color, swelling, masses,deformities).
2. Palpate each joint for temperature and range of motion (heat, tenderness,swelling, masses, limitation
in range of motion, crepitation).
3. Test muscle strength and strength against resistance of the major muscle groups of the body.
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5. Assess the cervical spine (alignment of head and neck, symmetry of muscles, tenderness, spasms,
range of motion).
6. Inspect and assess upper extremity strength and range of motion for the shoulders, elbows, wrists,
and hands.
7. Inspect and assess lower extremity strength and range of motion for the hips, knees, ankles and feet
Past health history, pregnancy, infection, Medications: Antibiotics, Surgery or other treatments.
• Health perception
• Nutritional
• Elimination
• Cognitive-perceptual
• Sexuality
Objective Data
General
- Fever, chills, dysuria
Urinary
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61. Nutritional-Metabolic
1- Are you able to feed yourself?
2- Do you have any problems getting adequate nutrition because of chewing or swallowing difficulties,
facial nerve paralysis, or poor muscle coordination?
62. Elimination
1- Do you have incontinence of your bowels or bladder?
63. Activity-Exercise
1- Describe any problems you experience with usual activities and exercise as a result of a neurologic
problem.
64. Sleep-Rest
1- Describe your sleep pattern.
65. Cognitive-Perceptual
1- Have you noticed any changes in your memory?
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66. Self-Perception-Self-Concept
1- How do you feel about yourself, about who you are?
67. Role-Relationship
1- Have you experienced changes in roles such as spouse, parent, or breadwinner?
68. Sexuality-Reproductive
1- Are you dissatisfied with sexual functioning?
3- Do you feel the need for professional counseling related to your sexual nctioning?
2- Do you think your present coping pattern is adequate to meet the stressors of your life?
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TEM
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