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Nursing 3320 – Holistic Health Assessment
Exam 3 Study Guide – Spring 2024
For every chapter be familiar with:
The specific structure & function of the systems and how it applies to the assessment.
Subjective data, including abnormal findings.
Objective data
o Examination across the lifespan
o Age specific findings and exam techniques
o Normal/expected and abnormal findings.
o How to perform the physical assessment for each system.
Pay attention to my slides as info on my slides could be covered on the exam.
Ch. 15 – Assessing Head & Neck
Structure & Function
Head
o 8 Cranial bones:
o 14 Facial bones:
Neck
o Muscles – sternomastoid & trapezius-innervated by cranial nerve XI.
How do you test?
o Cervical Vertebrae: what vertebrae is a landmark?
o Blood vessels
Veins:
Arteries:
o Thyroid gland
Produces thyroid hormones.
Purpose of thyroid hormones:
Lymph Nodes
o Know the names and location of each lymph node.
o Filter bacteria and tumor cells from lymph fluid
o If infection: swell and become painful.
o If malignancy: enlarge but not painful. Also, may be fixed.
Subjective Data: Know questions to ask and rationale.
Neck pain
o Muscular, cervical, arthritic changes
o Stress, tension.
o Sudden head and neck pain WITH elevated temperature and neck stiffness?
What test to perform?
o Age Specific: arthritis/osteoporosis = neck pain and decreased ROM
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Headaches: COLDSPA questions
o KNOW THE DIFFERENCES between different types of headaches.
Sinus, Cluster, Tension, Migraine, Tumor-related
Other such as meningitis, hypertension, fever, medication & substance related.
o Headaches related to taking certain medications.
o RED FLAG – severe headache in an adult or child
Other subjective symptoms and causes
o Difficulty moving head/neck.
o Lumps
o Cough/swallowing.
o Dizzy/lightheaded/blurred vision
o Weakness/numbness
Past health history
Family history
o Migraines often have familial association.
o Head and neck cancers can have genetic predisposition.
Lifestyle factors
o Smoking/Nicotine/Alcohol = increases risk of head and neck cancers
Symptoms?
o Safety considerations: helmets, recreational activities, posture
Thyroid Disfunction
Be familiar with Box 15-1
Signs of HYPOthyroid:
Signs of HYPERthyroid:
Traumatic Brain Injury
Risk assessment:
Client education:
Objective Data: Know procedure/technique & normal vs abnormal
findings.
Head and Face
Inspect
o Head: size, shape, involuntary movement
o Face: symmetry, movement, expression, skin condition
Drooping? SYMPTOM OF STROKE
What else would you assess if you suspect stroke?
Palpate
o Head: consistency the head for size, shape, and configuration
o TMJ
How to assess the TMJ:
Headache history?
Nursing 3320 – Holistic Health Assessment
Exam 3 Study Guide – Spring 2024
For every chapter be familiar with:
The specific structure & function of the systems and how it applies to the assessment.
Subjective data, including abnormal findings.
Objective data
o Examination across the lifespan
o Age specific findings and exam techniques
o Normal/expected and abnormal findings.
o How to perform the physical assessment for each system.
Pay attention to my slides as info on my slides could be covered on the exam.
Ch. 15 – Assessing Head & Neck
Structure & Function
Head
o 8 Cranial bones:
o 14 Facial bones:
Neck
o Muscles – sternomastoid & trapezius-innervated by cranial nerve XI.
How do you test?
o Cervical Vertebrae: what vertebrae is a landmark?
o Blood vessels
Veins:
Arteries:
o Thyroid gland
Produces thyroid hormones.
Purpose of thyroid hormones:
Lymph Nodes
o Know the names and location of each lymph node.
o Filter bacteria and tumor cells from lymph fluid
o If infection: swell and become painful.
o If malignancy: enlarge but not painful. Also, may be fixed.
Subjective Data: Know questions to ask and rationale.
Neck pain
o Muscular, cervical, arthritic changes
o Stress, tension.
o Sudden head and neck pain WITH elevated temperature and neck stiffness?
What test to perform?
o Age Specific: arthritis/osteoporosis = neck pain and decreased ROM
, 2
Headaches: COLDSPA questions
o KNOW THE DIFFERENCES between different types of headaches.
Sinus, Cluster, Tension, Migraine, Tumor-related
Other such as meningitis, hypertension, fever, medication & substance related.
o Headaches related to taking certain medications.
o RED FLAG – severe headache in an adult or child
Other subjective symptoms and causes
o Difficulty moving head/neck.
o Lumps
o Cough/swallowing.
o Dizzy/lightheaded/blurred vision
o Weakness/numbness
Past health history
Family history
o Migraines often have familial association.
o Head and neck cancers can have genetic predisposition.
Lifestyle factors
o Smoking/Nicotine/Alcohol = increases risk of head and neck cancers
Symptoms?
o Safety considerations: helmets, recreational activities, posture
Thyroid Disfunction
Be familiar with Box 15-1
Signs of HYPOthyroid:
Signs of HYPERthyroid:
Traumatic Brain Injury
Risk assessment:
Client education:
Objective Data: Know procedure/technique & normal vs abnormal
findings.
Head and Face
Inspect
o Head: size, shape, involuntary movement
o Face: symmetry, movement, expression, skin condition
Drooping? SYMPTOM OF STROKE
What else would you assess if you suspect stroke?
Palpate
o Head: consistency the head for size, shape, and configuration
o TMJ
How to assess the TMJ:
Headache history?
