Question

How can you prepare the exam room for a patient? What are you looking for in the patient’s chart in order to prepare the room according to their needs?

After the examination is over, what do you have to do?

If a patient is coming to see the physician for an annual Pap smear test, what are the supplies and instruments that you need to prepare?

Describe the -before, during, and after- process of a physical examination.

Answer 1

Preparation of exam room:

Patient examine room should be large enough with cleanliness and safety. The room should be kept arranged with adequate privacy. Place all needed equipment and supplies in the right place. Examination table should be covered and draped neatly. Ensure adequate lighting. Make sure of infection control practices and disinfectant of room. Proper labeling of the solution should be checked. The patient chart should be looked for patient's age, gender, specific problems, disabilities and need of any specific equipment should be arranged priorly. Following physical examination, remove the used drape, linen and disinfectant the room if necessary. Send the used equipment for sterilization and replace the things as it is.

Pap smear test:

Equipment and supplies:

• Examination gloves
• Speculum
• Spatula
• Cytobrush
• Glass slide

Before the procedure:

• Ensure the patient is ready for the Pap smear test.
• Educate the procedure.
• Ensure the patient is not menstruating, and not on vaginal medication and contraceptives.

During the procedure:

• Place the women on the exam table with the knee flexed.
• Undress the patient above waist level.
• The speculum can be inserted into the vaginal wall to visualize the cervix clearly.
• Sample of cervical cells should be collected on the soft brush with the help of the spatula

After the procedure:

• Label the sample and send it to the laboratory.
• The report should be followed and collected.