GUIDELINES IN

CONDUCTING
HEALTH
ASSESSMENT
PREPARING THE ENVIRONMENT

 Comfortable, warm room temperature: Provide a warm

blanket if the room temperature cannot be adjusted.
 Private area free of interruptions from others: Close the
door or pull the curtains if possible.
 Quiet area free of distractions: Turn off the radio,
television, or other noisy equipment.
 Adequate lighting: It is best to use sunlight (when
available). However, good overhead lighting is sufficient.
A portable lamp is helpful for illuminating the skin and for
viewing shadows or contours.
PREPARING THE ENVIRONMENT

 Firm examination table or bed at a height that prevents

stooping: A roll-up stool may be useful when it is
necessary for the examiner to sit for parts of the
assessment.
 A bedside table/tray to hold the equipment needed for the
examination
PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR VITAL SIGNS EXAMINATIONS

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR VITAL SIGNS EXAMINATIONS

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR NUTRITIONAL STATUS EXAMINATIONS

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR NUTRITIONAL STATUS EXAMINATIONS

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR SKIN, HAIR AND NAIL EXAMINATIONS

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR SKIN, HAIR AND NAIL EXAMINATIONS

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR SKIN, HAIR AND NAIL EXAMINATIONS

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR HEAD AND NECK EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR EYE EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR EYE EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR EAR EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR MOUTH, THROAT, NOSE AND SINUS EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR THORACIC AND LUNG EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR HEART AND NECK VESSEL EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR PERIPHERAL VASCULAR EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR ABDOMINAL EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR NEUROLOGIC EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR NEUROLOGIC EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR NEUROLOGIC EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR MALE GENITALIA AND RECTUM EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR FEMALE GENITALIA AND RECTUM EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE
EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT

FOR FEMALE GENITALIA AND RECTUM EXAMINATION

PREPARING THE PATIENT

 Establish the nurse–client relationship during the client

interview before the physical examination takes place.
 At the end of the interview, explain to the client that the
physical assessment will follow and describe what the
examination will involve.
 Respect the client’s desires and requests related to the
physical examination.
 Begin the examination with the less intrusive
procedures.
 Throughout the examination, continue to explain what
procedure you are performing and why you are
performing it.
 Approach the client from the right-hand side of the
examination table or bed because most examination
techniques are performed with the examiner’s right
hand (even if the examiner is left-handed).
PREPARING ONESELF

 Assess your own feelings and

anxieties before examining the
client.
 Achieve self confidence in
performing a physical
assessment by practicing the
techniques on a classmate,
friend, or relative.
 Prevent the transmission of
infectious agents.
 How to prevent infection
transmission?

 Wash your hands before beginning the examination, immediately

after accidental direct contact with blood or other body fluids, and
after completing the physical examination or after removing
gloves. If possible, wash your hands in the examining room in
front of the client.
 Always wear gloves if there is a chance that you will come in
direct contact with blood or other body fluids. In addition, wear
gloves if you have an open cut or skin abrasion, if the client has
an open or weeping cut, if you are collecting body fluids for a
specimen, if you are handling contaminated surfaces, and when
you are performing an examination of the mouth, an open wound,
genitalia, vagina, or rectum. Change gloves when moving from a
contaminated to a clean body site, and between patients.
 How to prevent infection
transmission?

 If a pin or other sharp object is used to assess sensory

perception, discard the pin and use a new one for your
next client.
 Wear a mask and protective eye goggles if you are
performing an examination in which you are likely to be
splashed with blood or other body fluid droplets (e.g., if
you are performing an oral examination on a client who
has a chronic productive cough).
 Click icon to add picture

PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION
TECHNIQUES

LIGHT
PALPATION
 PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION
TECHNIQUES

DEEP
PALPATION
 PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION
TECHNIQUES

BIMANUAL
PALPATION
OF THE
BREAST
 PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION
TECHNIQUES

DIRECT
PERCUSSION
OF SINUSES
 PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION
TECHNIQUES

BLUNT
PERCUSSION
OF KIDNEYS
 PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION
TECHNIQUES

INDIRECT OR
MEDIATE
PERCUSSION
OF LUNGS