Physical Examination Techniques
Visually examining the patient.
What is inspecting?
Potential risk of tanning beds and excess exposure to UV light.
What is skin cancer?
The thin, outermost layer of the skin.
What is the epidermis?
Hello, my name is ___ and I'm your nurse today.
What is an introduction?
Gently pressing tissue to check for abnormalities.
What is palpation?
A region in tissue that has suffered damage.
What is a lesion?
Itchy welts (urticaria); caused by allergies.
What are hives?
Name and date of birth.
What are patient identifiers?
Pressing down gently and observing the rate of capillary refill.
What is blanching?
When pinched skin does not recede back into place (or does so slowly).
What is poor skin turgor?
Epidermal cells that convert to hard plates of keratin.
What are nails?
Visible cues that healthcare providers can take note of. [data type]
What is objective data?
This is prevented by monitoring the skin above bony prominences in patients with limited mobility.
What is a pressure wound?
Gradual, symmetric hair loss caused by genetic disposition and elevated androgen levels.
What is male pattern baldness?
The skin and the accessory structures (i.e., hair, nails, and sebaceous glands). [whole organ name]
What is the integumentary system?
Patient answers and concerns. [data type]
What is subjective data?
Inspecting and palpating for rubor, calor, tumor/edema, dolor, and loss of function.
What is assessing for inflammation?
Excessive thickening of the skin, and a common metabolic disease that can cause it.
What is a callus and diabetes mellitus?
A condition that causes excess hair growth on certain body parts.
What is hirsutism?
Asking the patient the ABCDEFG of moles. [name each characteristic]
What are asymmetry, border, color, diameter, evolving, firmness, and growth?