,Jarvis’s Physical Examination &
Health Assessment
Student Laboratory Manual
Australian and New Zealand Edition
Australian Adapting Editor
Elizabeth Denmead, RN, ICURN, BSc, MHPED
Educational Consultant
Carolyn Jarvis, PhD, APRN, CNP
Family Nurse Practitioner
SAUNDERS
, Unit 1
Approaches and contexts of
health assessment in nursing
, Chapter One
The context of health assessment
INTRODUCTION
Every person requiring healthcare will need assessment prior to
instigation of any treatment. Data concerning their health status is
usually collected by the first health professional they meet. Often it is
the admitting nurse who collects the person’s health history and
investigates their presenting complaint. Accurate data collection forms
the basis of their management.
Physical examination and health assessment are skills that are used
on a daily basis in the clinical setting. In order to be able to accurately
perform these skills, you require an understanding of the structure and
function of the system to be examined, signs and symptoms associated
with that system, as well as extensive practice with the examination skill
components, to develop a beginning proficiency.
By completing the readings, activities and review questions, then
preparing and performing the clinical components identified throughout
the student laboratory manual you will begin to develop your skills in
physical examination and health assessment. The laboratory manual will
provide a guide to the development of these skills, but further reading,
self-directed learning and ongoing practice will be required to actually
develop proficiency and to feel comfortable when performing the
examinations.
In order to be able to assess and examine your patients you must
have a thorough understanding of what data to collect, how to obtain
the data and factors that may influence the data.
Health Assessment
Student Laboratory Manual
Australian and New Zealand Edition
Australian Adapting Editor
Elizabeth Denmead, RN, ICURN, BSc, MHPED
Educational Consultant
Carolyn Jarvis, PhD, APRN, CNP
Family Nurse Practitioner
SAUNDERS
, Unit 1
Approaches and contexts of
health assessment in nursing
, Chapter One
The context of health assessment
INTRODUCTION
Every person requiring healthcare will need assessment prior to
instigation of any treatment. Data concerning their health status is
usually collected by the first health professional they meet. Often it is
the admitting nurse who collects the person’s health history and
investigates their presenting complaint. Accurate data collection forms
the basis of their management.
Physical examination and health assessment are skills that are used
on a daily basis in the clinical setting. In order to be able to accurately
perform these skills, you require an understanding of the structure and
function of the system to be examined, signs and symptoms associated
with that system, as well as extensive practice with the examination skill
components, to develop a beginning proficiency.
By completing the readings, activities and review questions, then
preparing and performing the clinical components identified throughout
the student laboratory manual you will begin to develop your skills in
physical examination and health assessment. The laboratory manual will
provide a guide to the development of these skills, but further reading,
self-directed learning and ongoing practice will be required to actually
develop proficiency and to feel comfortable when performing the
examinations.
In order to be able to assess and examine your patients you must
have a thorough understanding of what data to collect, how to obtain
the data and factors that may influence the data.
