NURSING 1J02 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Stretch Reflex, Stethoscope, Heart Murmur
20 Feb 2017
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It is close, careful scrutiny, first of the individual patient and then of each system. Begins the moment you first meet the patient. Compare using the right and left sides of the body. You apply your sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture and organ location and size. Swelling, vibration or pulsation rigidity or spasticity, crepitation, presence of lumps or masses and presence of tenderness or pain. Fingertips: best for fine tactile discrimination such as skin texture, swelling, pulsation and lumps. Fingers and thumb: detect position, shape and consistency of an organ or mass through these digits. The dorsa of hands: determining temperature bc the skin is thinner on the dorsa. Base of fingers: best for vibration. Start with light palpation using the pads of your fingertips to detect surface characteristics and to accustom the patient to being touched. Then perform deeper palpation avoid when it causes pain.
