Clinical Focus: Physical Assessment

Module Objectives:

Utilizing critical reasoning and the nursing process, the student is expected to:

1. Discuss ethical principles and legal guidelines for the collection and dissemination of assessment data

2. Identify the data to collect the day prior to care and the source of the data

3. Describe the components of a daily shift assessment

4. Correlate the elements of the shift assessment with decision-making and planning for the patient's care

5. Describe the data to be collected for a patient admission assessment

6. Compare the data in the shift assessment to the data in the nursing admission assessment

7. Compare the physician's history and physical exam to the nursing physical exam

8. Document the patient's daily shift assessment, using the computer or agency form

9. Use critical thinking skills to make decisions about assessment

10. Identify teaching needs related to assessment

11. Work effectively with the health care team to communicate assessment data

12. Discuss the use of material and human resources to assure effective, comprehensive assessment

Learning Activities:

1. Review module objectives.

2. Learning Resources:

Review Physical Assessment Modules