Doctors Revision

Doctors Revision
Home Health Assessment

BNS 113: Health Assessment

A comprehensive guide to patient assessment, covering interviewing skills, physical examination techniques, mental status evaluation, and the interpretation of laboratory and diagnostic studies.

Course Content

Explore the detailed topics covered in Health Assessment.

Key concepts and the nursing process

Definition of concepts Types of health assessments Nursing process components Health assessment tools Therapeutic communication Symptom analysis

Interviewing skills and health history

Purposes & principles of interviewing Health history format Investigations during history Recording a client's health history Self/peer analysis of weaknesses Practice interviewing a client/peer

Assessment of the mental status

Review of mental functioning Assessment of appearance & behavior Evaluation of mood Assessment of thought process Evaluation of cognitive function

Physical Examination Technique

Inspection, Percussion, Palpation, Auscultation Equipment for physical examination Sequence for general assessment Composing overall impression Documentation of findings

Systemic Physical Examination

Skin, Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth Thorax and Lungs Cardiovascular & Peripheral Vascular Axilla and Genitalia Abdomen, Anus, and Rectum Cranial Nerves & Spinal Nervous System

Assessment of special populations

Pregnant Woman Pediatric Patient Mentally Ill Patient Elderly Patient

Laboratory and diagnostic studies

Full Blood Count (FBC) Blood Slide for Malaria HB, ESR, PCV Urinalysis, Stool Analysis Acid Alcohol Fast Bacilli (AAFBs) Blood Grouping & Cross Matching Culture & Sensitivity, Serology X-Ray, MRI, Ultrasound Electrocardiograph (ECG) Electrolytes & Hormone Levels Renal & Liver Function Tests

Key References

A selection of key texts and resources cited in this course unit.

  1. Jarvis, C. (2007). Physical Examination and Health Assessment. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders
  2. Bickley, L.S. (2006). Bates guide to physical examination and history taking: Lippincott
  3. Dains, JE. (2007). Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Diagnosis: Mosby Publishers
  4. Kozier, B., Erb, G., Blais, K. & Wilkinson, J. M. (2007). Fundamentals of nursing: Addison
  5. Dillon, M, P, (2007), Nursing Health Assessment: Philadelphia. F.A. Davis
  6. Barkauskas, V.H., et al (2001) Health and physical Assessment: Mosby-Year Book Inc.
  7. Wilson, S.F. & Giddens, J.F. (2008). Health Assessment for nursing practice: Mosby, Elsevier
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