Nursing assessment
The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (January 2024) |
Nursing assessment is the gathering of information about a
The client interview
Before assessment can begin the nurse must establish a professional and therapeutic mode of communication. This develops rapport and lays the foundation of a trusting, non-judgmental relationship. This will also assure that the person will be as comfortable as possible when revealing personal information. A common method of initiating therapeutic communication by the nurse is to have the nurse introduce herself or himself. The interview proceeds to asking the client how they wish to be addressed and the general nature of the topics that will be included in the interview.[4]
The therapeutic communication methods of nursing assessment takes into account developmental stage (toddler vs. the elderly), privacy, distractions, and age-related impediments to communication such as sensory deficits and language, place, time, non-verbal cues. Therapeutic communication is also facilitated by avoiding the use of medical jargon and instead using common terms used by the patient.[4]
During the first part of the personal interview, the
- OLDCART
- Onset of health concern or complaint
- Location of pain or other symptoms related to the area of the body involved
- Duration of health concern or complaint
- Characteristics
- Aggravating factors or what makes the concern or complaint worse
- Relieving factors or what makes the concern or complaint better
- Treatments or what treatments were tried in the past or ongoing[6]
Patient history and interview
The patient history and interview is considered to be subjective but still of high importance when combined with objective measurements. High quality interviewing strategies include the use of open-ended questions. Open-ended questions are those that cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no" response. If the person is unable to respond, then family or caregivers will be given the opportunity to answer the questions.[3]
The typical nursing assessment in the clinical setting will be the collection of data about the following:
In addition, the nursing assessment may include reviewing the results of laboratory values such as blood work and urine analysis. Medical records of the client assist to determine the baseline measures related to their health.
In some instances, the nursing assessment will not incorporate the typical
Physical examination
A nursing assessment includes a
The techniques used may include inspection,
Focused assessment
Neurovascular assessment
The nurse conducts a neurovascular assessment to determine sensory and muscular function of the arms and legs in addition to peripheral circulation. The focused neurovascular assessment includes the objective observation of pulses, capillary refill, skin color and temperature, and sensation. During the neurovascular assessment the measures between extremities are compared.[1] A neurovascular assessment is an evaluation of the extremities along with sensory, circulation and motor function.[10][11]
Mental status
During the assessment, interactions and functioning are evaluated and documented. Those specific items assessed include:
- orientation, memory,
- mood, depression, anxiety, coherence, hallucinations, illusions, insight
- speech patterns (rate, clarity clanging)
- grooming, personal hygiene, appropriateness of clothing
- response to verbal and tactile stimuli, level of consciousness, and alertness
- posture, gait, appropriateness of movements[12]
Pain
Pain is no longer being identified as the fifth vital sign due to the prevalence of opioid abuse and overprescribing of narcotic pain relievers. However, assessment for pain is still very important. Assessment of a patient's experience of pain is a crucial component in providing effective pain management. Pain is not a simple sensation that can be easily assessed and measured. Nurses should be aware of the many factors that can influence the patient's overall experience and expression of pain, and these should be considered during the assessment process. Systematic process of pain assessment, measurement, and re-assessment (re-evaluation), enhances the healthcare teams' ability to achieve. Pain is assessed for its provocative and palliative associations; quality, region/radiation, severity (numerical scale or pictorial, Wong-Baker Faces scale); and time—of onset, duration, frequency, and length of provocative and relief measures.
Integument
- hair: quantity, location, distribution, texture
- nails: shape and color, presence of clubbing
- lesions: type, location, arrangement, color of lesions, drainage, depth, width, length
- texture, moisture, color, elasticity, turgor[13]
Head
- scalp, facial symmetry, sensation
- eyes
- acuity
- eyelids
- lacrimal glands
- conjunctiva
- visual fields
- peripheral vision
- sclera
- size, shape, symmetry, pupil reactions
- movement (cranial nerves)[14]
- ears
- external structure
- inner ear
- eardrum
- hearing (frequencies of sound detected)[15]
- dentation[11]
Psychosocial assessment
The main areas considered in a
Safety
- environment[11]
- ambulatory aids
Cultural assessment
The nursing cultural assessment will identify factors that may impede or facilitate the implementation of a nursing diagnosis. Cultural factors have a major impact on the nursing assessment. Some of the information obtained during the interview include:
- ethnic origin
- primary language
- second language
- the need for an interpreter
- the client's main support system(s)
- family living arrangements
- Who is the major decision maker in the family? What are the family members' roles within the family
- Describe religious beliefs and practices
- Are there any religious requirements/restrictions that place limitations on the client's care?
- Who in the family takes responsibility for health concerns?
- Describe any special health beliefs and practices:
- From whom does family usually seek medical assistance in time of need?
- Describe client's usual emotional/behavioral response to: Anxiety: Anger: Loss/change/failure: Pain: Fear:
- Describe any topics that are particularly sensitive or that the client is unwilling to discuss (because of cultural taboos):
- Describe any activities in which the client is unwilling to participate (because of cultural customs or taboos):
- What are the client's personal feelings regarding touch?
- What are the client's personal feelings regarding eye contact?
- What is the client's personal orientation to time? (past, present, future)
- Describe any particular illnesses to which the client may be bioculturally susceptible (e.g., hypertension and sickle cell anemia in *African Americans):
- Describe any nutritional deficiencies to which the client may be bioculturally susceptible (e.g., lactose intolerance in Native and Asian Americans)
- Are there any foods the client requests or refuses because of cultural beliefs related to this illness (e.g., "hot" and "cold" foods for Latino Americans and Asian Americans)?[16]
Assessment tools
A range of instruments and tools have been developed to assist nurses in their assessment role. These include:
Other assessment tools may focus on a specific aspect of the patient's care. For example, the Waterlow score and the Braden scale deals with a patient's risk of developing a Pressure ulcer (decubitus ulcer), the Glasgow Coma Scale measures the conscious state of a person, and various pain scales exist to assess the "fifth vital sign".
The use of medical equipment is routinely employed to conduct a nursing assessment. These include, the otoscope, thermometer, stethoscope, penlight, sphygmomanometer, bladder scanner, speculum, and eye charts. Besides the interviewing process, the nursing assessment utilizes certain techniques to collect information such as observation, auscultation, palpation and percussion.
See also
References
- ^ a b Schreiber 2016, p. 55.
- ISBN 9780397550579.
- ^ a b Ackley 2011, p. 4.
- ^ a b Henry 2016, p. 127.
- ^ "The Nursing Process". American Nurses Association. 2016. Archived from the original on 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
- ^ D'Amico 2016, p. 120-21.
- ^ D'Amico 2016, p. 117.
- ^ "Physical Assessment of the Well Woman". University of Manitoba. Archived from the original on 2006-07-17. Retrieved 2006-10-31.
- ^ "Components of a physical assessment". Sweethaven Publishing. Archived from the original on 2006-06-20. Retrieved 2006-10-31.
- ^ Schreiber 2016, p. 55-57.
- ^ a b c "Comprehensive Nursing Assessment" (PDF). Department of Mental Health and Hygiene. Maryland.gov. 6 June 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ Bates 1995, p. 17.
- ^ Bates 1995, p. 21.
- ^ Bates 1995, p. 22.
- ^ Bates 1995, p. 25.
- ^ Townsend 2015, pp. 582–2.
- ^ "Nursing assessment and older people" (PDF). Royal College of Nursing. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-24. Retrieved 2006-10-31.
- S2CID 44278873.
- PMID 14258950.
- ^ Wilkin, D; Jolley D (1979). Behavioural problems among older people in geriatric wards, psychogeriatric wards and residential homes 1976–1978. University Hospital of South Manchester.
- ^ Pattie, A.; Gilleard, C. (1979). Manual of the Clifton assessment procedures for the elderly. Essex: Hodder and Stoughton.
- ISBN 0-19-712143-8.
- ^ Copeland 1976.
Bibliography
- Ackley, Betty (2010). Nursing diagnosis handbook : an evidence-based guide to planning care. Maryland Heights, Mo: Mosby. ISBN 9780323071505.
- Amico, Donita (2016). Health & physical assessment in nursing. Boston: Pearson. ISBN 978-0-13-387640-6.
- Bates, Barbara (1995). A pocket guide to physical examination and history taking. Philadelphia: Lippincott. ISBN 9780397550579.
- Habich, Michele, and MariJo Letizia. 2015. "Pediatric Pain Assessment In the Emergency Department: A Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Protocol." Pediatric Nursing 41, no. 4: 198–202.
- Henry, Norma Jean, Mendy McMichael, Janean Johnson, Agnes DiStasi, Brenda S. Ball, Honey C. Holman, Mary Jane Janowski, Marsha S. Barlow, Peggy Leehy and Terri Lemon (2016). Fundamentals for Nursing, Review Module Edition 9.0. Assessment Technologies Institute. ISBN 978-1-56533-567-7.
- Kozier, Barbara (2012). Kozier & Erb's fundamentals of nursing : concepts, process, and practice. Boston: Pearson. ISBN 978-0-13-802461-1.
- Longe, Jacqueline (2006). The Gale encyclopedia of nursing & allied health. Detroit: Thomson Gale. ISBN 1-4144-0377-1.
- Potter, Patricia (2013). Fundamentals of nursing. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby Elsevier. ISBN 978-0-13-224355-1.
- Smith, Sandra (2002). Photo guide of nursing skills. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-8385-8174-2.
- Taylor, Carol (2015). Fundamentals of nursing : the art and science of person-centered nursing care. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health. ISBN 978-1-4511-8561-4
- Townsend, Mary (2015). Psychiatric nursing : assessment, care plans, and medications. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company. ISBN 978-0-8036-4237-9.
- Weber, Janet (2014). Nurses' handbook of health assessment. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health. ISBN 9781451142822.
Journals
- Schreiber, Mary L. Evidence-Based Practice. Neurovascular Assessment: An Essential Nursing Focus. MEDSURG Nursing (MEDSURG NURS), Jan/Feb2016; 25(1): 55–57. ISSN 1092-0811
- Copeland, J; Kelleher, M.; Keller, J (1976). "A semistructured clinical interview for the assessment of diagnosis and mental state in the elderly: the geriatric mental state schedule – 1 development and reliability". Psychological Medicine. 6 (3): 439–449. S2CID 36375156.
Further reading
- Harkreader, Helen and Mary Ann Hogan. Fundamentals of Nursing: Caring and Clinical Judgement. (2003) W B Saunders Co. ISBN 0-7216-0060-3
[1]==External links==
- Glasgow coma scale
- Morse Fall Assessment An assessment tool to determine and quantify persons as low, mid, and high risk for falls.
- Pressure Ulcer Staging Guide, from the Wound Care Institute
- National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel
- Audio recordings of Korotkoff sounds. CETL, Clinical and Communication Skills, Barts and City University of London.
- Assessing Body Temperature. CETL, Clinical and Communication. Barts and City University of London.
- Assessing The Abdomen. CETL, Clinical and Communication. Barts and City University of London.
- Physical assessment. ATI Nursing Education.