The Basics
This assessment approach should be considered first when assessing the client's overall condition.
What is ABCDE
What is PQRST?
When visually assessing the limbs, the nurse should compare them on these two sides
What are bilaterally?
On the muscle strength scale provided, this number represents NO muscle contraction?
What is 0?
A visible abnormal shape of a limb or joint may indicate this injury.
What is a fracture or dislocation?
This type of assessment evaluates the bones, muscles, and joints to identify changes in function or deterioration.
What is a musculoskeletal assessment?
When taking a musculoskeletal history, nurses should ask about limitations in these everyday activities, commonly abbreviated ADLs
bruising, wounds, rashes, deformities, shortened limbs, and rotation are examples of things identified during this part of the assessment?
On the muscle strength scale, this number represents full resistance and normal strength.
What is 5?
Seeing bone through the skin indicates this type of fracture.
What is an open fracture?
Two important functions that should be established as a baseline during a musculoskeletal assessment are mobility and this other function.
What is motor or sensory function?
Numbness and tingling are examples of these symptoms that should be assessed as part of the subjective history
When observing a client standing and walking, the nurse should assess posture, gait, balance, and this characteristic.
What is symmetry?
What is compromised circulation/vascular injury?
A limp that appears shortened or rotated may indicate this.
What is a fracture or dislocation?
In Correctional health, musculoskeletal assessments may be particularly important after these three situations: a fall, exercise injury, or this type of code event.
Code Yellow
When assessing musculoskeletal symptoms, the nurse should consider both the patient's actual functional abilities and this aspect of their experience.
What is their perceived function/symptoms?
Active and passive versions of this are assessed by observing flexion and extension.
What is range of motion?
An absent pulse in an injured limb may indicate this type of compromise.
What is arterial or vascular compromise?
What is the nervous system?
A focused musculoskeletal assessment should never be an isolated assessment. It is important to also consider what?
What is other body system assessments
Medical and Family history should be obtained using this approach, particularly when discussing potentially sensitive or traumatic experiences.
What is culturally safe and trauma-informed care?
During palpation, the nurse assesses tenderness, temperature, swelling, tone, and this ability by applying resistance?
What is muscle strength?
Following an injury, severe or disproportionate pain accompanied by pallor and an absent pulse should raise concern for this potentially serious condition.
What is compartment syndrome?
Severe, disproportionate pain; especially after a fracture, crush injury, or surgery - should make the nurse consider this emergency.
What is compartment syndrome?