Nursing Assessment: Head-to-Toe Physical Assessment

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to nursing assessment and physical examination techniques.

Nursing Assessment

A systematic approach used by nurses to evaluate a patient's health status through observation, physical examination, and health history.

Head-to-Toe Assessment

A comprehensive physical examination technique used by nurses to assess all body systems in a systematic manner.

Cyanosis

A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes due to insufficient oxygen in the blood.

Palpation

The use of touch during a physical examination to assess the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts.

Auscultation

The act of listening to internal sounds of the body, typically using a stethoscope, to assess the function of organs such as the heart and lungs.

Edema

Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues, often assessed through palpation.

Capillary Refill

A test to assess the blood flow to the extremities by measuring the time it takes for color to return after pressure is applied to a nail bed.

Turgor

The elasticity of the skin, used to assess hydration status by pinching the skin and observing how quickly it returns to its normal position.

Lordosis

An excessive inward curve of the spine, often associated with the lower back.

Kyphosis

A forward rounding of the back, often referred to as hunchback.

Miosis

The constriction of the pupils, usually in response to light.

Mydriasis

The dilation of the pupils, often indicative of neurological or pharmacological factors.

Anisocoria

Unequal pupil sizes, which can be a sign of injury or disease.

S1 and S2 Heart Sounds

S1 is the sound associated with the closure of the atrioventricular valves; S2 is associated with the closure of the semilunar valves.

Jugular Venous Pulse

The backflow of blood that can be observed in the neck veins and used to assess right heart function.

Cullen's Sign

A clinical sign indicative of intra-abdominal bleeding that presents as a bluish discoloration around the umbilicus.

Bimanual Examination

A physical examination technique in gynecology that involves palpating the uterus and other pelvic organs with two hands.

Bradycardia

A slower than normal heart rate, often measured in beats per minute.

Tachycardia

A faster than normal heart rate, usually exceeding 100 beats per minute.