The nurse is performing her initial assessment of the day when she notices that the patient has a facial droop that he did not have yesterday and that was not reported in the hand-off report from the night nurse

Question

The nurse proceeds to assess the neurological status of the patient. This type of assessment is known as:
a.
an emergency assessment.
b.
a focused assessment.
c.
a complete physical examination.
d.
a comprehensive assessment.

Answer 1

ANS: B
A focused or clinical assessment is a brief individualized physical examination conducted at the beginning of an acute care-setting work shift to establish current patient status or during ongoing patient encounters in response to a specific patient concern. A focused assessment may be conducted when signs indicate a change in a patient's condition or the development of a new complication. Emergency assessment is a physical examination done when time is a factor, treatment must begin immediately, or priorities for care need to be established in a few seconds or minutes. Attention is paid to the patient's airway, breathing, and circulation. Other concerns in the emergent setting are noticeable deformities such as compound fractures, contusions, abrasions, puncture wounds, burns, tenderness, lacerations, bleeding, and swelling. A comprehensive or complete assessment includes a thorough interview, health history, review of systems, and extensive physical head-to-toe assessment, including evaluation of cranial nerves and sensory organs, such as with sight and hearing testing. A complete physical examination may be conducted on admission to a hospital, during an annual physical at the office of a physician or nurse practitioner, or on initial interaction with a specialist.