Bates Nursing Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking: Chapter 6

Bates Nursing Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking: Chapter 6 your access to the patient's body is a unique and time-honored privilege in the role of the nurse. showing sensitivity for privacy and patient modesty must be - ANSWER-ingrained in your professional behavior and conveys respect for the patient's vulnerability what should you do before the examination begins when making the patient comfortable? - ANSWER--close nearby doors -draw the curtains in the hospital or examining room -wash your hands thoroughly a finding in one system may not be an ____________ finding - ANSWER-isolated for example, the patient who presents with a chief complaint of blurred vision may be having vision changes because of age, an injury, a retina or macular affliction, or changes due to hyperglycemia what is the purpose of the physical examination? - ANSWER-to determine changes in a patient's health status and how to respond to a problem as well as promote healthy lifestyles and well-being how to prepare for the physical examination? - ANSWER--reflect on your approach to the patient -adjust the lighting and the environment -check that the equipment is available and in working order -make the patient comfortable -choose the sequence of examination as you enter the room to conduct a physical examination, identify - ANSWER-yourself as a nursing student appear calm and organized, even when you feel inexperienced it is common to forget part of the examination, especially at first if that occurs, simply examine that area out of sequence it is not unusual to go back to the patient and ask to check one or two items that might have been overlooked