Chapter 2: Admissions and assessment
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Pre‐procedural considerations
Prior to commencing a patient assessment, the nurse should prepare the physical environment, taking into consideration the patient's privacy and dignity (Smith and Rushton [80]).
Equipment
Prior to the examination, the nurse should ensure the environment is at a suitable temperature and prepare the appropriate equipment. Good preparation of equipment is essential for a competent physical assessment (Crouch and Meurier [17]). The following equipment may be useful as part of a physical examination:
- pen torch
- stethoscope
- examination couch
- tongue depressor
- ruler (must measure in centimetres and be at least 10 cm long).
Patient preparation
During the physical assessment, the use of sheets, blankets and gowns will help to minimally expose the area being examined, maximizing privacy and dignity. Whatever system(s) are being examined, the nurse should organize their steps to minimize the number of times the patient needs to change position (Rushforth [74]). The nurse must consider whether the patient has any needs requiring specific adjustments, whether the patient requires translation and the possibility of a chaperone (Donnelly and Martin [22]).
