assisting with physical examinations. methods and equipment vary from md to md 3 major kinds of...
DESCRIPTION
4 main techniques used 1. Observation - MD looks at pt- observes skin color, rash, growths, swelling, scars, deformities, body movements, hair/nail conditions, general appearance 2. Palpation- MD uses hands and fingers to feel various parts of body to determine whether part of the body is enlarges, hard, out of place, or painful to the touchTRANSCRIPT
Assisting with Physical Examinations
• Methods and equipment vary from MD to MD• 3 major kinds of examinations– EENT– GYN– General/complete physical
4 main techniques used• 1. Observation- MD looks at pt- observes
skin color, rash, growths, swelling, scars, deformities, body movements, hair/nail conditions, general appearance
• 2. Palpation- MD uses hands and fingers to feel various parts of body to determine whether part of the body is enlarges, hard, out of place, or painful to the touch
• 3. Percussion- MD taps and listens for sounds coming from various organs; MD places one or several fingers of one hand on body part, then uses fingers of other hand to tap the body part> sounds allow MD to determine size, density, and position of organs
• 4. Auscultation- MD listens with stethoscope
Examples of equipment/instruments used for Examinations
• Cervical spatula (Ayer blade)- wooden or plastic blade used to scrape cells from cervix ; usually part of a pap (Papanicolaou) kit; pap test is to check for cervical cancer
• Laryngeal mirror- instrument with a mirror at one end; used to examine the larynx
• Ophthalmoscope- lighted instrument to examine eyes
• Otoscope- lighted instrument to examine ears• Percussion (reflex) hammer- used to test tendon
reflexes• Sigmoidoscope- lighted instrument used to
examine the sigmoid colon• Speculum- used to examine internal canals of the
body> Ex. Nasal, vaginal, rectal
• Sphygmomanometer- used to measure BP• Stethoscope- used for auscultation• Tongue blade/depressor- wood or plastic stick
used to depress the tongue so throat can be examined
• Tuning fork- instrument with two prongs that is used to test hearing acuity
Preparing the pt for exam
• Explain procedure> alleviate fears• Usually needs to remove all or at least some
articles of clothing an put on gown• Have pt void> If urine specimen is
needed/ordered> collect at this time• Position and drape pt according to exam being
performed
Frequent test done prior to exam
• Ht and Wt• VS (TPR and BP)• Vision screening• Audiometric screening• Blood tests• Electrocardiogram
• **Practice standard precautions**
Info on Lab requisition formExamples• Date• Time• Pt’s name• Pt’s address• Pt’s ID number• Doctor’s name• Type of specimen• Test ordered• Date of LMP
•Read pages 741-747 for basic guidelines in DHO textbook