NR 305 Week 7 Debriefing the Week 6 Head to Toe Assessment Assignment

Name

Chamberlain University

NR-305: RN Health Assessment

Prof. Name

Date

Week 7: Debriefing the Week 6 Head-to-Toe Assessment Assignment

Physical Assessment in Practice

In my current nursing role, I do not conduct physical assessments directly. Instead, I primarily focus on evaluating the social, financial, and educational needs of our insurance members. This involves connecting patients with community resources and providing education about their medical diagnoses and necessary tests. In my previous position as the sole RN in a busy primary care office, my responsibilities included handling medication and testing authorizations, screening and triaging phone calls, and managing various nursing tasks. During that time, I primarily conducted focused assessments tailored to the needs of patients visiting the office.

For instance, I would facilitate the initial intake appointment, identifying the issues that prompted the patient’s visit. I assessed vital signs and inquired about any medication concerns. For patients with diabetes, I often reviewed their blood sugar logs and monitored their feet for skin changes or signs of vascular issues using monofilament testing to check sensation. I communicated any concerns to the physician promptly. An article I reviewed resonated with my experience, stating, “When asked if they would inspect their feet regularly, the majority stated that they did not perform the inspection of those limbs or only performed it sporadically” (Saraiva Lucoveis et al., 2018, p. 3045). The physician frequently re-evaluated the areas I examined to confirm my findings.

Thoroughness of Patient Assessments

I believe that the patient assessments performed in my previous nursing practice were generally appropriate. However, it is crucial to remain vigilant for discrepancies between objective findings and subjective reports. Lockhart and Davis (2014) emphasize, “It’s important to consider that not all situations require traditional solutions” (p. 18). Typically, patients visit their primary care provider for wellness checks, medication refills, or to address specific acute concerns.

Reflections on the Video Assignment

Reflecting on the video assignment, I felt a sense of intimidation. Despite my extensive experience as a nurse since 2004, I found myself anxious about the 200-point assessment, worried about forgetting critical components. For example, I struggled to remember the specific locations of Erb’s point and the lymph nodes, although I recalled their relevance. Having not performed a hands-on head-to-toe physical assessment in over six years contributed to my uncertainty, as I required a refresher on the terminology and locations.

Being on camera is particularly challenging for me; I recorded the assignment three times. The first attempt was excessively lengthy, while the second recording was still over time and omitted several evaluations. Ultimately, my third recording lasted under 15 minutes, and I hoped I covered all necessary topics, though I found myself frequently staring off to recall what I might have missed. During my nursing education, I was apprehensive about potentially harming a patient and struggled with explaining my assessment process. To build my confidence, I became a nursing aide, which provided valuable experience interacting with patients.

Since then, I have had the privilege of mentoring numerous new nurses, fostering a sense of pride in sharing my knowledge. Although my current role focuses more on the social, economic, and home-related aspects of health and wellness rather than direct patient care, this assignment has reaffirmed my ability to demonstrate compassion and understanding during a physical assessment.

References

Lockhart, L., & Davis, C. (2014). Caring for… Nontraditional families. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy, 12(6), 14. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edb&AN=99041601&site=eds-live&scope=site

NR 305 Week 7 Debriefing the Week 6 Head to Toe Assessment Assignment

Saraiva Lucoveis, M. do L., Antar Gamba, M., Boccara de Paula, M. A., & da Silva Morita, A. B. P. (2018). Degree of risk for foot ulcer due to diabetes: nursing assessment. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 71(6), 3041–3047. https://doi-org.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2016-0586