Physical Assessment Tips

In nursing school, your first round of real-life physical assessments can be a stressful and intimidating experience. Trying to keep yourself organized and on track -- while balancing a large list of important tasks and, simultaneously, making your patient feel comfortable -- is hard for the beginning nurse. While physical assessments will get easier over time, there are a few things you can keep in mind to help make your first set a little bit easier.

Study

• While each physical assessment is different, most of them follow the same general course. You have to approach the assessment in an organized fashion designed to address all of the systems of the body. If you spend a few extra hours a week studying important warning signs and the physical assessment process, you will be more comfortable when you finally start working on patients. The more knowledge you bring to the situation, the less stressful it will be. Be aware of what you should be looking for and what your instructors are expecting to see.

Review

• There is a range of patient information available to you before you enter the room. The patient chart should contain important information like religion, name, race, occupation and age. You can use this information to help with your assessment and to build a rapport with the patient. You can also prevent patient frustration by not forcing him to repeat answers to questions he has already addressed.

Be Friendly

• While a tactical mastery of the physical assessment process will serve you well in a career as a nurse, you also need to build your bedside manner. You should approach the patient in a friendly manner, introducing yourself and letting her know what role you play in her treatment. A patient with a positive opinion of you is more likely to follow your instructions and trust your judgment. A brief chat is an excellent precursor to the physical assessment process.

Practice the Mechanics

• There are several physical tasks that need to be performed during a physical assessment, like tapping the body for consistency, listening to cavities for heart and lung quality and pressing on the body to look for tenderness or masses. These steps will become familiar with time, but it may be a good idea to practice on a friend or family member before you work with an actual patient. When you practice at home, you can ensure you are performing the steps correctly with less pressure, and your test subject can alert you to any problems you may have like painful techniques or rushing through the exam.