Question

Explain the steps you would take in performing a physical assessment on a patient. Describe two yes questions in any system on the history that may alert you to a patient problem and what symptoms you may find on physical examination in that system.

Answer 1

There are four steps in performing a physical assessment for a patient. they are

1. inspection: includes overall inspection of the general condition of the patient. it includes what is the general condition of the patient, check for bleeding, signs of hypoxia, edema, peripheral cyanosis etc

2.palpation: usually done with the help of tip of fingers. it is done to check for any masses or lumps in the body. the area which are palpated are chest, abdomen, lymph nodes etc

3. percussion: during this step the examiner uses his fingers to tap the body part which produces different sounds. the examiner then interprets these sounds to find out any abnormalities.

4.auscultation:in this step the examiner uses a sthethescope to hear the sounds of neck, lung, heart abdomen etc.

Respiratory system

question 1: Do you have the habit of smoking?

question 2: Do you feel difficulty in breathing while doing any activity?

If the patient is saying yes to the above questions: on physical examination

• pursed breathing
• fatigue
• tachycardia
• cyanosis
• weightloss
• coughing
• productive cough