DESALES UNIVERSITY
Department of Nursing & Health
COURSE NO.:
NU 215
COURSE TITLE:
Health and Physical Assessment
CREDIT HOURS:
4
3 hours lecture and 2 hours on-campus lab weekly
OFFERED:
Spring Semester
PREREQUISITES:
Sophomore level standing, NU 205
INSTRUCTOR:
Mrs. Shelley Yeager, M.S.N., R.N.; ext. 1368 (work); (610) 7400538 (home); shelley.yeager@desales.edu (e-mail);
http://www4.desales.edu/~sey0 (web site)
OFFICE LOCATION:
Dooling Hall, Room 60
OFFICE HOURS:
Wednesday, 9:00 - 11:00; Friday, 9:00 - 12:00; or by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Provide the students with methods of comprehensive health
assessment for individuals across the lifespan. Includes history
taking, interview, physical examination techniques, relevant
screening tests, and procedures for each body system.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Identify the purposes of health and physical assessment.
2. Describe and implement systematic techniques used during
health and physical assessment.
3. Describe the purposes and characteristics of select
equipment and screening tests used in health and physical
assessment.
4. Recognize normal findings, normal variations, and selected
abnormalities identified throughout a health and physical
assessment.
5. Document health and physical assessment findings in a
concise, descriptive manner.
6. Integrate the data obtained in a health and physical
assessment as a basis for client care.
7. Apply therapeutic communication skills during the interview
process while maintaining patient dignity.
TEACHING METHODS:
Lecture, discussion, case presentations, audio-visuals, return
demonstration, overhead visuals.
GRADING AND EVALUATION: Theory Tests - 2 @ 15% each
Theory Final Exam
Comprehensive Nursing Health History
Family Genogram
Health Assessment Practical With Write-Ups
= 30%
= 25%
= 15%
= 10%
= 20%
The two unit tests will be based on the previous material
presented; the final exam will be cumulative from the beginning
of the semester with emphasis on new material. Any material
from required readings, lectures, and group discussions might be
tested as well as applications of this material.
Written assignments not handed in on due dates will be
penalized five points for EACH day they are late.
The grading scale for NU 215 is as follows:
A
AB+
B
BC+
= 94-100
= 90-93.99
= 87-89.99
= 83-86.99
= 80-82.99
= 77-79.99
C
CD+
D
F
= 74-76.99
= 71-73.99
= 68-70.99
= 65-67.99
 64.99
C is an unacceptable final grade for this course. C+ or above is
a passing grade.
ATTENDANCE:
MANDATORY attendance is required at all scheduled theory
examinations and health assessment laboratory sessions. As
such, attendance at each scheduled theory examination and
health assessment laboratory session will be taken. Attendance
at all scheduled lectures is EXPECTED. As such, attendance at
each scheduled lecture will also be taken.
Unpreparedness for health assessment laboratory sessions will
result in removal from the health assessment laboratory session
and a “0” for the experiences covered in the health assessment
laboratory session.
Each student is responsible for reporting his/her UNAVOIDABLE
absence from a scheduled theory examination and/or health
assessment laboratory session to the instructor PRIOR TO the
time arranged for the experience.
Makeup work for UNAVOIDABLE absences from scheduled
theory examinations and/or health assessment laboratory
sessions is to be INITIATED BY THE STUDENT with the
instructor within 48 hours of the missed experience except in
emergency situations. However, any makeup for absences from
scheduled theory examinations and/or health assessment
laboratory sessions will be CONDUCTED AT THE DISCRETION
OF THE INSTRUCTOR and, IN NO CASE, is such makeup time
guaranteed.
Two absences from health assessment laboratory sessions and
any absence from scheduled theory examinations will result in
failure to attain satisfaction of course objectives and, thus, course
failure.
PLAGARISM POLICY:
Refer to the Academic Honesty Policy on page 25-27 of the
2001-2003 Bulletin of Information.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Bickley, L. (1999). A guide to physical examination and history
taking (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.
TOPICAL CONTENT:
1) The health history
a) purpose of
b) interviewing skills and techniques
c) format of the history for documentation
d) interview methods and communication techniques
e) dealing with sensitive issues
f) dealing with patients with special needs
2) Holistic health assessment
a) developmental assessment
i) purpose of
ii) preparation for
iii) documentation of history
iv) techniques of examination
(1) infants and children
(2) adults
b) nutritional assessment
(1) purpose of
(2) preparation for
(3) documentation of history
(4) techniques of examination
(a) height/weight/BMI
(b) body composition
(c) body proportions
c) sleep assessment
i) purpose of
ii) preparation for
iii) documentation of history
iv) techniques of examination
(1) EOG
(2) EEG
(3) ECG
d) pain assessment
i) purpose of
ii) preparation for
iii) documentation of history
iv) techniques of examination
(1) Wong/Bailey Faces Scale
(2) VAS
3) Physical examination: approach and overview
a) assessment techniques
i) purpose of examination
ii) conducting the examination
iii) basic principles
iv) safety
v) equipment
vi) examination techniques
(1) inspection
(2) palpation
(3) percussion
(4) auscultation
vii) special maneuvers and positioning
b) abdomen
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
c) anus and rectum
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
d) breasts and axillae
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
e) cranial nerves
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
f)
ears
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
g) eyes
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
h) face
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
i)
female genitalia
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
j)
general survey
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
k) hair
i. purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
l)
head
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
m) heart
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
n) male genitalia
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
o) mental status
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
p) motor system
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
q) mouth and pharynx
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
r)
musculoskeletal system
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
s) nails
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
t)
neck
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
u) neck vessels
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
v) nose and paranasal sinuses
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
w) peripheral vascular system
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
x) reflexes
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
y)
sensory system
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
z) skin
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
aa) thorax and lungs
i) purpose of the assessment, structure and function,
pertinent history questions, preparation of the patient
and environment, techniques of examination,
normal/variations from normal findings,
documentation
APPENDICES:
All assigned audiovisual materials are considered by the
Department of Nursing and Health as part of the required reading
assignments and, as such, must be viewed and completed by the
students on their own time.
APPROVALS:
Instructor’s Signature: __________________________________
Date: ______
Department Chair’s Signature: ___________________________
Date: ______