ASSESSMENT OF HAIR, SCALP, AND NAILS
Physical and Health Assessment
- In a physical examination, there are many
things that healthcare providers can find out
by using the different components or
technique of assessment
- From the use of their hands to feel
(palpation), use of stethoscope and ears to
listen (auscultation), use of different senses
(inspection), or the use of their hands to
“tap” on an area of the body (percussion).
- Findings that are present on the physical
exam are used to diagnose, or be helpful in
diagnosing, different diseases or
abnormalities of the system.
Techniques of Physical Examination
1. Inspection
- Inspect each body system using
vision, smell, and hearing to assess
normal conditions and deviations.
Assess for color, size, location,
movement, texture, symmetry,
odors, and sounds as you assess
each body system
2. Palpation (Light and Deep Palpation)
- Palpation requires to touch the
patient with different parts of the
hand, using varying degrees of
pressure. Keeping the fingernails
short and hands warm is a must.
Wear gloves when palpating mucous
membranes or areas in contact with
body fluids. Palpate tender areas
fast.
-Light Palpation:
- Use this technique to feel for
surface abnormalities
- Depress the skin ½ to ¾ inch
(about 1 to 2 cm) with your
finger pads, using the lightest
touch possible
- Assess for texture,
tenderness, temperature,
moisture, elasticity,
pulsations, and masses
- Deep Palpation:
- Use this technique to feel
internal organs and masses
for size, shape, tenderness,
symmetry, and mobility
- Depress the skin 1 ½ to 2
inches (about 4 to 5 cm) with
firm, deep pressure
- Use one hand on top of the
other to exert firmer
pressure, if needed.
3. Percussion (Direct and Indirect)
- Percussion involves tapping the
fingers or hands quickly and sharply
against parts of the patient’s body to
help locate organ borders, identify
organ shape and position, and
determine if an organ is solid or filled
with fluid or gas
- Direct Percussion:
- This technique reveals
tenderness; it is commonly
used to assess and adult’s
sinuses
- Indirect Percussion:
- This technique elicits sounds
that give clues to the makeup
of the underlying tissue
4. Auscultation
- Auscultation involves listening for
various lung, heart, and bowel
sounds with a stethoscope
Health Assessment
Assessment
- Is a key component of nursing practice,
required for planning and provision of
patient and family centered care
Conducts a comprehensive and systematic nursing
assessment, plans nursing care in consultation with
individuals/groups, significant others & the
interdisciplinary health care team and responds
effectively to unexpected or rapidly changing
situation
Data Collection
Health Assessment is an evaluation of the health
status of an individual by performing the two most
important parts of assessment that includes:
1. Physical Examination
2. Obtaining Patient’s Health History
Types of Data
● Subjective Data
○ Information from the client’s point of
view (symptoms), including feelings,
perceptions, and concerns obtained
through interviews
● Objective Data
○ Are observable and measurable
data (signs) obtained through
observation, physical examination,
and laboratory and diagnostic testing
Source of Data
Relevant information that needs to be gathered as
support to the data obtained from assessment and
health history
● Primary Source
○ The patient is the main source of
information
● Secondary Source
○ Sources of information comes from
the significant others, guardians or
relatives, laboratory examination
Evaluation Phase
● In the evaluation phase of assessment, the
health care provider ensure the information
