04 Foundations of Patient Assessment Free Online FlashCards

What makes patient assessment a continuous process?

Assessment is continuous: gather information, compare it with the patient’s baseline and expected findings, recognize changes, act within your role, and communicate clearly.

How should adult resting vital-sign ranges be interpreted?

Adult resting reference ranges are guides, not universal targets or diagnostic cutoffs. Consider the patient’s baseline, condition, activity, medications, and prescribed parameters.

How can you improve blood-pressure measurement reliability?

Use the correct cuff size, position the patient comfortably, and keep the arm at heart level. Repeat an unexpected reading when safe, using correct technique.

What context matters when interpreting an SpO₂ reading?

Interpret SpO₂ alongside symptoms, baseline, prescribed target, oxygen device and flow, and signal quality. Poor circulation, movement, and nail products can affect readings.

What is the purpose of a focused assessment?

A focused assessment examines the body systems and symptoms most relevant to the patient’s concern or a new finding. Combine reported information with observed or measured findings.

What should a focused assessment of new shortness of breath include?

Assess ability to speak, breathing rate and effort, skin color, lung sounds as trained, SpO₂, oxygen equipment, and relevant symptoms such as chest discomfort.

How should new leg swelling be assessed?

Compare both legs for size, color, warmth, tenderness, and edema. Report concerning findings promptly.

Name concerning signs of a change in condition.

New confusion, breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, sudden weakness, uncontrolled bleeding, or rapidly worsening pain are concerning. A patient can deteriorate even if one vital sign is within range.

What should you do when a patient’s condition appears urgent?

Attend to immediate safety, call for help or activate the urgent-response process as policy directs, reassess promptly, and escalate without delay. Follow through and escalate again if the concern persists or worsens.

What is essential when assessing a patient’s pain?

Pain is subjective: ask the patient and take the report seriously. A numeric rating alone is not a complete assessment.

What information does PQRSTU help gather about pain?

PQRSTU prompts cover provocation or palliation, quality, region or radiation, severity, timing or treatment, and the patient’s understanding of the cause.

What should be reassessed after a pain intervention?

After an intervention, reassess and document pain, function, response, and concerning effects within the timeframe required by orders and facility policy.