What Are the Key Components of a Nursing Assessment?
A comprehensive nursing assessment typically includes the following elements:
Health History: Collecting information about the patient’s past and current health conditions, including surgeries, medications, and allergies. Physical Examination: A head-to-toe assessment to evaluate the patient’s physical state. This includes observing, palpating, percussing, and auscultating different body systems. Psychosocial Assessment: Understanding the patient’s mental and emotional health, including their coping mechanisms, support systems, and lifestyle factors. Functional Assessment: Evaluating the patient’s ability to perform daily activities and their level of independence. Risk Assessment: Identifying potential risks such as fall risk, infection risk, and pressure ulcers.
