Final Exams Concepts

Final Exams Concepts
1. Know the difference between subjective and objective data. (I will scream if you all
get these wrong! :))
 Subjective: What a person says about themselves
o Example: “My BP was 118/90 yesterday” and pain
 Objective: What you observe through measurement, inspection, palpation,
percussion, and auscultation
o Examples: Meter readings, vital signs, and measurements
2. Barriers to communication. What are they?
 The use of jargon
 Emotional barriers and taboo
 Lack of attention, interest, distractions, or irrelevance to the receiver
 Difference in viewpoint
 Physical barriers to non-verbal communication
 Physical or mental disabilities (Physical: Hearing problems. Mental: Down
Syndrome)
 Language differences and difficulty understanding unfamiliar accents
 Cultural difference.
3. Traps of interviewing-Chapter 3
 Providing false assurance or reassurance
 Giving unwanted advice
 Using authority
 Using avoidance language
 Distancing
 Using professional jargon
 Using leading or bias questions
 Talking too much
 Interrupting
 Using “why” questions
4.Open ended questions vs closed ended questions. Know the difference and when to use
them during the interview process.
 Open ended: Questions asking for narrative information
o When to use them:
 Use it to begin the interview
 Introduce a new section of questions
 Whenever the person introduces a new topic
 Closed (direct) questions: Asking for specific information. Elicit a short, one-
or two-word answer, a “yes” or “no” or a forced choice.
o Used in an emergengy to obtain information quickly
5. Components of a Health History -Chapter 4. Know this Chapter!!
 Initial information

,  Chief complaint
 Past medical history
 Family history
 Social history
 Review of systems
 Physical exam
6. General survey and what it consists of.
 Initial inspection
 Observe posture
 Hygeine
 Facial expression
 Assess breathing
 Behaviors
 Body language
o Appearance
o Body Structure and mobility
o Behavior
7. Skills requisite of physical exam. Chapter 8. Know the correct order for assessment.
(Inspection, palpation etc). Know the different order for abdominal exam.
 Order:
o Inspect
o Palpation
o Percussion
o Auscultation
 Abdomen:
 Inspect
 Auscultation
 Percussion
 Palpation
8. Know the normal range of respirations. Above and below that range, what's it called?
 Normal Range: 12-20(21)
 Dyspnea: Shortness of breath; < 12
 Tachypnea: Abnormally rapid breathing; >21
9. Lung sounds- Know difference between normal vs abnormal and where they are heard.
10. Characteristics of pulse and how to document it.
 Rhythm: Normal regular, even tempo
o Rating:
 Force:
 3+: Full, bounding
 2+: Normal
 1+: Weak, thread
 0: Absent

, 11. Blood pressure cuff sizes and impact on blood pressure readings.
 Cuff sizes:
o Too small: Falsely high BP due to extra pressure to compress artery
o Too large: Falsely low BP due to not being able to cut off blood vessel
properly
12. Changes in blood pressure in the elderly caused by what?
13. Assessment of ALL pulses and their locations. (Apical, radial, popliteal, etc)
 Temporal
 Carotid
 Apical (5th ICS, L Mid clavicular)
 Brachial
 Radial
 Femoral
 Popliteal
 Posterior Tibial
 Dorsalis pedis
14. Carotid pulse- location and abnormality is called?
15. How does the physical assessment differ of newborn , toddler, adolescent and elderly.
What is important to consider with each stage? What to do differently when performing
exam with each age group?
16. Diastolic vs Systolic. Know the differences.
 Systolic: Pressure is maximum pressure felt on the artery during left
ventricular contraction
 Diastolic: Pressure is the elastic recoil, resting, pressure that the blood exerts
constantly between each contraction
17. What is PERRLA?
18. Psoriasis- what is it? Location on body commonly found?
19. Musculoskeletal -know different muscle movements. (Flexion, extension, etc)
20. Skin lesions- Malignant vs Non Malignant and their characteristics.