Health Assessment 101
An assessment that is conducted at regular intervals to follow up on identified health problems and interventions
What is an ongoing partial assessment?
When a nurse asks a client to follow her finger as she slowly moves it towards the clients nose, she is assessing this
What is convergence or pupillary accomodation?
Lung sounds that are medium-pitched, blowing and equal on inspiration and expiration
What are bronchovesicular?
Sense of vision
What is the Optic Nerve (Cranial Nerve II)?
When listening for bowel sounds, these are the two things you are assessing
What are frequency and character?
An assessment conducted to assess a specific health problem
What is a focused assessment?
Equipment needed to test vision acuity
What is a Snellen chart
An abnormal breath sound that indicates fluid in the air passages
What are crackles?
Movement of the shoulders
What is the Spinal Accessory Nerve (Cranial Nerve XI)?
When assessing a person with dark skin, the best place to assess jaundice
What is the sclera?
Providing a quiet room, adequate light and privacy is an important part of _______
What is preparing the environment for an assessment
Using a penlight to shine a bright light directly on the eye tests for this
What is pupillary reaction
An abnormal breath sound that indicates a narrowing of the airways
What is wheezing?
Lateral movement of the eyes
What is the Abducens Nerve (Cranial Nerve VI)?
A forward curvature of the upper spine and shoulders
What is kyphosis?
The four techniques of physical assessment
What are inspection, auscultation, palpation, and percussion
This technique of assessment may be used to assess the sinuses, the thyroid, and lymph nodes
What is palpation?
An audible vascular sound associated with turbulent blood flow
What is a bruit?
Muscle movement of the face and sense of taste on anterior of tongue
What is the Facial Nerve (Cranial Nerve VII)?
Includes biographical data, reason for seeking care, history of present health concern, health history, and review of systems
What is a health history?
A broad assessment that includes a complete health history and physical examination
What is a comprehensive health assessment?
A simple hearing test that can screen for hearing issues without the use of any equipment
What is the whisper test?
Side of the stethoscope used to assess murmurs and bruits
What is the bell?
Jaw movements and sensations on face and neck
What is the Trigeminal Nerve (Cranial Nerve V)?
The fullness or elasticity of skin assessed by lifting a fold of skin with the thumb and first finger over the clavicle
What is elasticity or turgor?