Health Assessment I

Catalog description

This course, part one of a two-part course, introduces the student to principles and techniques of nursing assessment, focusing on patient history taking, interview and communication techniques and techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation. The role of the nurse in obtaining comprehensive health assessments, including attributes of physical, psychosocial, developmental, cultural and spiritual functioning is discussed. Application of assessment findings to clinical decision making is addressed. The laboratory component is designed to promote cognitive and psychomotor skills necessary to assess the integumentary, head and neck, lymphatics, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Practice of assessment techniques occurs through experiential learning.