Health Ass tut wk 2

CSL Preparation Week 2 Overview

• It is essential to complete activities prior to attending the clinical simulation lab.

• Reference lecture content and required readings to effectively complete the worksheet.

Activity 1: Physical Examination Techniques

Assessment Focus for Each Technique

• Inspection

  • Look for signs of bruising, chronic wounds, or other skin conditions.

  • Assess body alignment, posture, and general health mood implications.

• Auscultation

  • Listen to heart, lungs, and bowel sounds using a stethoscope.

  • Helps identify normal versus abnormal sounds and issues like edema and muscle contractions.

  • Assess pain and trigger points, noting abnormal sounds such as high-pitched lung sounds.

• Percussion

  • Assess size, consistency, borders of organs, and presence of fluid or air through tapping.

  • Useful for assessing the liver, spine, bladder, and stomach.

  • Types of sounds:

    • Tympanic: Drum-like sound indicating gas.

    • Dull: Indicates solid organs.

• Palpation

  • Examine areas of the body for tension, temperature, size, consistency, and tenderness.

  • Use light palpation to assess the structure and feel of organs/tissues.

  • Assess conditions, such as warmth/coolness of skin, or abdominal tenderness.

Activity 2: A-G Assessment Framework

Body Parts and Terminologies to Define

• A structured assessment approach during CSL focusing on the following:

Airway

• Look for:

  • Signs of airway obstruction, neck swelling, or hematomas.

  • Security of artificial airway.

• Listen for:

  • Noisy breathing (gurgling, snoring, stridor).

• Feel for:

  • Air movement and airway security.

  • Terms:

    • Hematoma: Collection of blood outside blood vessels, causing discoloration.

    • Stridor: Harsh sound while breathing due to obstruction.

    • Central Venous Pressure (CVP): Measurement of pressure in the vena cava/atrium.

Breathing

• Look at:

  • Chest wall movement, accessory muscle use, and respiratory rates.

• Listen for:

  • Noisy breathing and clarity of speech.

Circulation

• Look at:

  • Skin color, capillary refill, and jugular venous pressure.

• Listen for:

  • Blood pressure, heart sounds, and patient complaints of dizziness.

Disability

• Look at:

  • Level of consciousness, facial symmetry, and pupil reaction.

• Listen for:

  • Response to external stimuli and muscle strength.

Exposure

• Look for:

  • Skin integrity, pressure injury, and hidden bleeding.

• Listen for:

  • Air leaks in drains.

Key Terms Definitions

• Peripheral Cyanosis: Blueness in limbs due to restricted blood flow.

• Surgical Emphysema: Air trapped under skin, often due to surgical trauma.

• Capillary Refill Time: Assessment of blood flow recovery time in the nail bed after pressure.

• Skin Turgor: Elasticity of skin, used to assess hydration.

• Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar levels causing excessive thirst, lethargy, and confusion.

• Diaphoresis: Abnormal sweating without apparent reason.