Health Assessment Page
Disclaimer: I am no longer actively teaching this course, and professors may have made changes. Let me know if you have any questions regarding discrepancies.
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 as a zip file or subscribe as a podcast.
| Health Assessment Lectures: | Podcast Feed | Subscribe with iTunes | Download as Zip File (194 MB) |
Introduction to Health Assessment
Welcome to Health Assessment. You will need the following items for class:
- Stethoscope: I 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. Sometimes you can find a “student package” which includes alternate ear pieces at no extra cost. Always get that if you can. You can also get the MDF brand equivalent if you like.
- 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).
Health Assessment Syllabus
Health Assessment Schedule
Class Handouts:
Example of documentation- Mid term check off form
- Final Assessment check off form
- Vocabulary list
Components of the physical exam
Class notes:
Introduction Lectures
HA Interviewing Techniques: Cultural considerations. Prejudice. Stererotype. Discrimination…not what you think they are. Cultural Values Housekeeping. The textbook information has changed. I now prefer Swartz, Textbook of Physical Diagnosis. About me. Concepts of house. Documentation. Privacy. HIPAA. Subjective and Objective data. H&P, SOAP, and DARP formats. SBAR reporting. Interviewing techniques. Appearance and rapport. Introductions. Phases of interview. Introductory script: “Hello, Mr. …, my name is… I am going to… Let me check your name band.”
General Videos
MidTerm Checkoff Video
Final Check off
Bed Assessment
All Health Assessment Videos in Playlist
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:
Class notes:
Lectures
Vital Signs and General Survey
General Survey is the first objective assessment of health.
Vital signs are the “signs of life.”
Class notes:
- General Survey Notes in PDF
General Survey Notes in - Vital Signs notes in PDF
- Vital Signs notes in PowerPoint
Lectures
Skin Assessment
Assessment of Skin, Hair, and Nails. Remember that practically everything you see on an attractive person is dead.
Class notes:
Lectures
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:
Lectures
Cardiovascular assesssment
Cardiovascular assessment includes the skin, heart, arteries, and veins.
Class notes:
Lectures
Abdominal and GI assessment
Look
Listen
Feel
Class notes:
Lectures
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:
Lectures
Musculoskeletal
Assessment of the Musculoskeletal system
This topic Includes a video. (Click on the title to access the video)
Class notes:
Lectures
Videos
Neurological Assessment
Neuro assessment includes mental status, sensory, motor, and coordination.
Class notes:
Lectures
Videos
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.
Class notes:
Lectures
Videos
Head and Neck
Eye Chart
Eye Exam
Ears Nose and Throat Assessment
Head – Complete Exam
Genitourinary assesssment
Assessment of male and female genitalia and urinary system.
Also includes rectal assessment.
Class notes:
Lectures
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.
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