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Health Assessment Course Page

Below are the topics, handouts, and notes for Health Assessment. If you click on the title of a topic, you will be taken to the lecture files (mp3) for that topic. Alternatively, you may download the lectures by accessing the Health Assessment podcast address into iTunes or another podcast program: http://www.patheyman.com/nursing/ha.rss.

Introduction to Health Assessment

Welcome to Health Assessment. You will need the following items for class:

  • Stethoscope: we recommend Littman stethoscopes, with the Classic 2 being the lowest end version we recommend. The cost is about $65-$75, but the quality is much higher than lower end stethoscopes.
  • Penlight: I recommend getting one with a replaceable battery and aluminum shell. They can be had for less than $5 at Walmart.
  • Watch with second hand (or indicator if digital).
Class Handouts: 
application/pdf iconHealth_Assessment_syllabus_2012su.pdf
application/msword iconExample of documentation
application/msword iconMid term check off form
application/msword iconFinal Assessment check off form
application/msword iconVocabulary list
application/pdf iconComponents of the physical exam
Class notes: 
application/pdf iconIntroduction Notes in PDF
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconIntroduction Notes in PowerPoint

Video: Midterm Check Off

Click on the title to access the Midterm check off video.

Video: Final Check off

Click on the title to access the Final Check video (Updated August 2010)

Video: Hospital Bed Assessment

This video shows a modified and shortened Head to Toe assessment appropriate for use in the hospital setting.

History

Key Points:

  • History is always subjective.
  • History includes present things, not just the past.
  • History can be from the patient or from family, caregivers, or other healthcare personnel.
  • A review of systems is a series of questions.
Class Handouts: 
application/pdf iconExample of Complete Health History Assignment
Class notes: 
application/pdf iconHistory notes in PDF
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconHistory notes in PPT

Vital Signs and General Survey

General Survey is the first objective assessment of health.
Vital signs are the "signs of life."

Class notes: 
application/pdf iconGeneral Survey Notes in PDF
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconGeneral Survey Notes in
application/pdf iconVital Signs notes in PDF
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconVital Signs notes in PowerPoint

Skin Assessment

Assessment of Skin, Hair, and Nails. Remember that practically everything you see on an attractive person is dead.

Class notes: 
application/pdf iconSkin notes in PDF
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconSkin notes in PowerPoint

Respiratory Assessment

Respiratory and chest assessment. Chest includes the back, not just the front. As long as we're back there, we'll do a spinal assessment also.

Class notes: 
application/pdf iconRespiratory notes in PDF
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconRespiratory notes in PPT

Cardiovascular assesssment

Cardiovascular assessment includes the skin, heart, arteries, and veins.

Class notes: 
application/pdf iconCardiovascular notes in PDF
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconCardiovascular notes in PowerPoint

Diagnostic Tests and Midterm

This week you will have your midterm check off. See the Intro or the course page for the handout. You will have 10 minutes to complete the assessment. There is a video example of the check off.

You will also have a test this week on all the material to date.

Diagnostic Tests will not be discussed in class (unless you ask specific questions). There will be a quiz next week on it, and they will be on the final.

Class notes: 
application/pdf iconDiagnostic Tests notes in PDF
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconDiagnostic Tests notes in PowerPoint

Musculoskeletal

Assessment of the Musculoskeletal system
This topic Includes a video. (Click on the title to access the video)

Class notes: 
application/pdf iconMusculoskeletal Assessment Notes in PDF
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconMusculoskeletal Assessment Notes in PowerPoint

Neurological Assessment

Neuro assessment includes mental status, sensory, motor, and coordination.
This topic includes a video. (Click on the title to access the video.)

Class notes: 
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconNeuro Notes in PowerPoint
application/pdf iconNeuro Notes in PowerPoint

Eyes, Ears, Nose

This module will span two weeks. The first week is head and neck assessment, and the second week is eyes, ear, nose. And yes you really do need to remember all 12 cranial nerves...in order...AND what they do...and how you assess them. (Click on the title to watch the videos.)

Class notes: 
application/pdf iconHead and Neck and ENT notes in PDF
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconHead and Neck and ENT notes in PowerPoint

Genitourinary assesssment

Assessment of male and female genitalia and urinary system.
Also includes rectal assessment.

Class notes: 
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconGenitourinary notes

Developmental Assessment

This topic is just a brief overview of Erickson's and Piaget's theories. We do not do any formal assessment in class, but you will in clinical and especially in Maternal/Child clinical. You should always keeps stage of life in mind when interacting with patients and their families.