Answers | 2026 Updates | 100% correct
Goal of Physical Exam: Come up with a system that will work for you! - ANSWER-
Complete (Want to make sure that it covers all systems in order to identify any
pathology)
Be reproducible (Want to organize your exam so that you will perform the exam the same way
all the time / Allows you to be complete and not forget any pertinent assessment data to be
gathered)
Link together sections/system (eg. integrate eye exam with the Head and Neck exam, as it
involves the same region of the body)
Efficient (Be able to perform the exam with an economy of movement)
Talk to your patients - ANSWER- Talk to your patient during each step of the exam to
decrease patient anxiety
Be sure to be dressed for clinical per BSN handbook: - ANSWER- White uniform & white
leather shoes
Official name badge with picture
USF SONHP patch attached to uniform
Clean and well-groomed with short fingernails and hair pulled back from face
Equipment: - ANSWER- Stethoscope
Pen Light
Pen/Paper (to take notes)
Hand Sanitizer
Alcohol Wipes
Gloves
Introduction: - ANSWER- Assemble Equipment - Before meeting with patient
Knock on door
,Provide Privacy
Hand Hygiene
Safety Inspection
Introduce Self
Describe Procedure
Set up & organize equipment
Knock on door and provide privacy
Perform hand hygiene
Safety scan
General survey - ANSWER- Assess for signs of acute distress or discomfort
E.g. diaphoresis (sweating), clutching chest, dyspnea, pain indicated by facial grimace or holding
body part
No signs of distress or pain, if there is do further assessment and describe the pain
Introduce yourself & describe procedure - ANSWER- Alert, how they feel, and speech
Identify patient: armband/name and DOB (oriented to person)
Note what is different (reorient them)
Assessments: - ANSWER- Cognition (where you are / what is the day/date today?)
(oriented to place and time)
Neurologic Exam
Mouth
Skin
Lungs
Heart
Abdomen
Bowel & Urinary Function
Peripheral Vascular
, Assess cognition: orientation
Assess neurologic: pupils (round, equal, PERRL)
Inspect oral cavity (mouth) - ANSWER- Inspect:
Lips
Teeth
Tongue
Inspect skin: - ANSWER- Color/tone
Integrity
Lesions
Boney prominences
Palpate skin:
Temperature (warm bilaterally, feet/hands can be cooler)
Moisture
Texture
Thickness (older adults: thinner)
Boney prominences
Assess skin turgor (older adult: some tenting)
Assess lungs - ANSWER- History of cough
Auscultate breath sounds
Anteriorly and posteriorly
Ask about: cough
Auscultate breath sounds (clear breath sounds bilaterally)
Where is it different?
Assess heart - ANSWER- Auscultate heart sounds
S1, S2
Rhythm