Health Assessment and Physical Examination

Health assessment forms the foundation of all health care. Assessment is an ongoing process that is person-centred and considers the whole person as a physical, psychosocial and functional being, whether they are young or old, well or ill. Health Assessment and Physical Examination, 3rd edition for Australia and New Zealand, provides a well-illustrated approach to the process of holistic assessment, including health history interviews, physical examination techniques and health education. The text is clearly presented and moves the learner through foundation to more advanced health assessment. For all levels of nurses, from commencing students to advanced health care practitioners, this text supports learners by presenting a scaffolded approach. This moves the learner through the comprehensive contextual information for that system, including health assessment and physical examination techniques supported by evidence. Through this process abnormal findings are highlighted and the chapter concludes with assessment applied to practice through a case study exemplar including actions the nurse should consider.

This comprehensive yet student-friendly text is noted for its high-quality case studies, pedagogical elements, and excellent student resources.

Unique to this text are the advanced topics and ‘Urgent findings’, which highlights serious or life-threatening signs or critical assessment findings that need immediate attention.

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Contents:

UNIT 1 Laying the foundation

• Critical thinking and nursing process
• The patient interview and developmental considerations
• The complete health history including documentation
• Cultural and spiritual assessment (TBC)

UNIT 2 Physical examination

• Physical assessment techniques
• Examination requirements for every patient
• Mental status
• Skin, hair, and nails
• Head, neck, and regional lymph nodes
• Eyes
• Ears, nose, mouth and throat
• Breast and regional nodes
• Thorax and lungs
• Heart and blood vessels
• Abdomen and nutrition
• Musculoskeletal system
• Female genitalia
• Male genitalia
• Anus, rectum and prostate

UNIT 3 Specific lifespan populations

• The pregnant woman
• The paediatric patient
• The older adult

UNIT 4 Putting it all together

• Health assessment and physical examination in context

Educational Publishing Awards Australia 2020 WINNER: Tertiary (Adaptations) Teaching and Learning – print or blended learning (print and digital)