Nurses use penlights for a variety of clinical assessments. The most common uses include:
- Neurological Assessments: Penlights are essential for evaluating pupil response to determine neurological function. By shining the light into the patient's eyes, nurses can observe how the pupils react, which provides valuable information about the patient's neurological status. - Throat Examination: When examining a patient's throat, a penlight helps illuminate the area, enabling the nurse to look for signs of infection, swelling, or other abnormalities. - Wound Inspection: Penlights are useful for closely examining wounds, especially in areas with low lighting, to ensure proper wound care and to check for signs of infection or healing.
