Types of Health Assessments
This assessment provides a complete database for establishing a baseline of health.
What is a comprehensive health assessment?
This is the patient's primary reason for seeking healthcare, stated in their own words whenever possible.
What is the chief complaint?
These questions encourage patients to answer in their own words and provide more detail.
What are open-ended questions?
This ethical principle means "do no harm."
What is non-maleficence?
These two primary tools are used to manually measure a patient's blood pressure.
What are a sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope?
This assessment is performed to evaluate a specific health problem or body system.
What is a focused assessment?
This part of the health history describes the development, location, duration, and characteristics of the current health concern.
What is the history of present illness?
These questions usually require short, specific responses such as "yes" or "no."
What are closed-ended questions?
This principle requires acting in the patient's best interest.
What is beneficence?
The nurse should ideally count them without first telling the patient to avoid altering the breathing pattern.
What are respirations?
This type of assessment is repeated at regular intervals to identify changes in a patient's condition.
What is an ongoing (follow-up) assessment?
This portion includes previous illnesses, surgeries, allergies, medications, and hospitalizations.
What is the past medical history?
This communication technique involves giving full attention, observing nonverbal cues, and providing feedback.
What is active listening?
This ethical principle supports the patient's right to make informed healthcare decisions.
What is autonomy?
Before obtaining a blood pressure reading, the patient should be seated quietly for approximately this amount of time.
What is at least 5 minutes?
This rapid assessment identifies life-threatening conditions and determines treatment priorities.
What is an emergency assessment?
This section identifies diseases and conditions that occur among biological relatives.
What is the family health history?
This nonverbal behavior helps demonstrate interest and engagement while interviewing a patient.
What is maintaining appropriate eye contact?
This principle requires fair and equal treatment of all patients.
What is justice?
This artery is the preferred site for assessing the pulse during a routine adult health assessment.
What is the radial artery?
This assessment emphasizes health promotion, disease prevention, and identification of risk factors.
What is a wellness or screening assessment?
This component explores lifestyle, occupation, nutrition, substance use, and living environment.
What is the social/personal history?
This therapeutic technique restates or summarizes what the patient has said to verify understanding.
What is reflection or paraphrasing?
This ethical responsibility requires protecting private patient information.
What is confidentiality?
This blood pressure sound marks the point at which the first tapping sound is heard as the cuff is deflated.
What is the systolic blood pressure (the first Korotkoff sound)?