Chabot College
Fall, 2009
Course Outline for Physiology 2L
PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
Catalog Description
2L - Physical Assessment
½ - 1 unit
Advanced techniques utilized in developing and improving physical assessment skills in the clinical setting.
Focus is on assessing the status of neurological, cardiac, peripheral vascular, thoracic, musculoskeletal,
integumentary, and abdominal systems and breast and testicular examination. The use of data obtained from
assessment interviews, subjective and objective assessments such as laboratory and diagnostic tests
(respiratory, arterial blood gas analyses, pulse oximetry, and basic cardiac dysrhythmia interpretation) is
integrated. Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Human Physiology 1 and Microbiology 1 (or equivalent) and:
satisfactory completion of all required courses in the first semester of the nursing program and concurrent
enrollment in Nursing 59 or 60A, or satisfactory completion of Nursing 70, or the possession of a valid
Californnia RN license. 1.5 – 3 hours laboratory.
Prerequisite Skills:
Before entering the course, the student should be able to:
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apply concepts of clinical pharmacology in the care of clients;
apply principles of human anatomy and physiology and microbiology in the care of clients;
complete an assessment of the thorax, skin, abdomen, oral cavity, and peripheral vascular
system, including verbalizing normal physiological changes across the life span;
complete a post-partum assessment of a mother;
complete a newborn assessment;
apply the components of the nursing process;
develop a nursing diagnosis based on physical assessment;
apply the principles of aseptic technique in the care of a patient;
identify principles involved in the care of the immediate post-operative patient;
utilize therapeutic communication in groups and with individuals;
verbalize components of “-ostomy” care;
incorporate principles and methods of teaching involved in the care of the patient in acute and
chronic illness;
demonstrate competency in the insertion of a nasogastric tube and care for a patient with a
nasogastric tube;
list the assessments and care required for patients with portable suction devices.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
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develop a problem list through utilization of the health data base in an interviewing scenario;
perform a breast examination correctly;
perform a testicular examination correctly;
perform a cardiac assessment in the appropriate sequence;
perform a peripheral vascular assessment in the appropriate sequence;
perform an ophthalmic examination;
perform an abdominal examination correctly;
perform a thoracic assessment correctly;
perform a neurological assessment in the appropriate sequence;
perform a culturally sensitive assessment collecting subjective and objective data;
perform a comprehensive head to toe examination;
interpret basic cardiac dysrhythmias;
explain standard principles involved in the treatment of basic cardiac dysrhythmias;
interpret EKGs;
interpret pulse oximetry results through application of the principles of the oxyhemoglobin
dissociation curve;
correctly interpret arterial blood gas analysis.
Chabot College
Course Outline for Physiology 2L, page 2
Fall 2009
Course Content:
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Health data base interviewin
Problem list development
Breast examination
Testicular examination
Diagnostic procedures for suspected breast and testicular pathologies
Cardiac assessment
Cardiac case analysis
Basic cardiac dysrhythmias
Standard dysrhythmia treatment
Ophthalmic examination
Neurological assessment
Neurological case analysis
Advanced techniques of thoracic, abdominal, and peripheral vascular assessment
Respiratory arterial blood gases and pulse oximetry analysis
Methods of Presentation:
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Seminar discussions
Demonstration
Audio-visual aids
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Students:
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Typical Assignments
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Case study assignments: List assessments and rationale needed for
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Cardiac patient
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Patient with respiratory failure
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Class projects
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Draw chest components on a T-shirt
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Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
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Return demonstration
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Participation in discussions
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Written tests/assessments including a final exam
Textbook(s) (typical):
Physical Assessment, Jarvis, 5th ed., Mosby, 2007
Special Student Materials:
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Stethoscope
Watch with sweep second hand
Lab coat
Physio.2L.doc/rc/cg
Rev. 09/2008