NURS 203 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Stretch Reflex, Palpation, Otoscope
Document Summary
Jarvis: physical examination & health assessment, 2nd canadian. Chapter 09: assessment techniques and the clinical setting. This section discusses key points about assessment techniques. Physical examination requires the sequential use of four assessment techniques: inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Inspection is close, careful observation of the patient as a whole and then of each body system. When conducting an inspection, use the patient"s body as the control and compare the right and left sides of the body to determine symmetry. Inspection requires good lighting, adequate exposure, and at times the use of special instruments, such as an otoscope or penlight. Palpation is the use of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture, and organ location and size. This technique also helps identify swelling, vibrations, pulsations, rigidity or spasticity, crepitation, lumps or masses, and tenderness or pain. o. Different parts of the hands are best for assessing different factors. The fingertips are best for fine tactile discrimination.
