Title: Module 4: Introduction
Course: NUR 1008C Transition to Prof Nursing > Section: Module 4

Health and physical assessments are completed in order for the nurse to collect health data from the client and compare this to the ideal state of health, taking into account the client's age, gender, culture, ethnicity, and physical, psychological, and socioeconomic status.  The client's strengths, weaknesses, health problems, and deficits are identified, through the collection and analysis of data. The nurse incorporates the client's knowledge, motivation, support systems, coping ability, and preferences to develop a plan of care that will help the client maximize his or her health potential. The components of health assessment include conducting a health history (the collection of subjective data), performing a physical examination (the collection of objective data), and documenting the findings.

Objectives

Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to:
- Describe how to create a therapeutic environment/setting for a health and physical assessment of a client.
- Explain the significance of measuring vital signs.
- Perform a mental status exam and complete head to toe physical assessment accurately of clients of different ages and health status.
- Assess each body system, utilizing the four assessment techniques (inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation). Include subjective and objective data for each system.
- List normal/abnormal assessment findings for each body system.
- Plan client teaching interventions for all areas assessed.
- Record, written and electronically, health and physical assessment findings using acceptable documentation guidelines.

Readings

- Text A Silvestri - Chapter 34
- Text B Potter & Perry - Chapter 35