Physical Assessment for Nurses

by Editor: Carol Cox (St Bartholomew School of Nursing, City University)

• ISBN13: 9781405105903
• ISBN10: 1405105909
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-09-01
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Physical assessment is a means of evaluating health status using a combination of clinical examination and history taking. A complete physical assessment should form the basis of all nursing care. Physical Assessment for Nurses is aimed at all advanced nurse practitioners and nurses preparing to become advanced nurse practitioners. It forms the foundation for extending practice. The text explores best practice in history taking and summarises the key clinical skills needed to develop and improve physical examination skills and to competently assess, diagnose, plan and provide care. Physical Assessment for Nurses is adapted for nurse practitioners from Turner and Blackwood: Lecture Notes on Clinical Skills (Third edition).

Author Biography

Carol Cox is Professor of Nursing, Advanced Clinical Practice, St Bartholomew School of Nursing and Midwifery, City Univesity, London and Nurse Consultant, Research and Education Related to Practice, Newham Healthcare NHS Trust

Table of Contents

Foreword: Advanced Clinical Practice Nursing	vii
Preface	xiii
Acknowledgements	xiv
Contributors	xv
Introduction: The First Approach	1	(324)
1 History Taking	6	(16)
2 General Examination	22	(24)
3 Examination of the Cardiovascular System	46	(27)
4 Examination of the Respiratory System	73	(18)
5 Examination of the Abdomen	91	(13)
6 Mental Health Assessment	104	(8)
7 Examination of the Nervous System	112	(41)
8 Examination of the Musculoskeletal System	153	(26)
9 Assessment of the Child	179	(37)
10 Assessment of Disability Including Care of the Older Adult	216	(7)
11 Basic Examination, Notes and Diagnostic Principles	223	(10)
12 Presenting Cases and Communication	233	(8)
13 Imaging Techniques and Clinical Investigations	241	(33)
14 The 12-Lead Electrocardiogram	274	(29)
15 Interpretation of Investigations	303	(2)
16 Laboratory Results-Reference Values	305	(8)
17 Common Emergency Treatments	313	(12)
Appendices
1: Jaeger Reading Chart	325	(3)
2: Visual Acuity 3 m Chart	328	(2)
3: Hodkinson Ten Point Mental Test Score	330	(1)
4: Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living	331	(2)
Index	333