Master Course Outlines | Bucks County Community College

NURS220 Nursing Health Assessment

3 credits

2250

BIOL182 (C or better)

None

Limited seat availability. A stethoscope is required for the course.

This course provides theory and technical skills to perform health and physical assessment. The legal and ethical aspects of the examination and documentation will be included. This course may fill the pre-requisite requirement for Registered Nurses pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree.

Course Learning Goals

At the completion of the course the student will:
1. complete a head to toe physical assessment in a systematic manner;
2. document accurately the findings from the health interview and physical assessment;
3. analyze the health assessment data and be able to formulate statements relative to their findings;
4. discuss the legal implications of the data collected by the nurse;
5. analyze the abnormal findings of the health and physical assessment;
6. discuss the ethical issues related to the physical assessment process; and
7. compare and contrast findings of an adult patient with that of an older adult.
The student will learn:
1. the different methods of collecting health assessment data;
2. the purpose of the interview;
3. a systematic approach to data collection by using the senses;
4. by demonstrating the skills and techniques on a laboratory partner; and
5. the correct method of documentation of the health interview and physical assessment findings.
Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
1. Introduction to Health Assessment
  1. Developing a database
  2. Legal and ethical considerations of the data
  3. Data documentation
2. The Health History
  1. Steps of the interview
  2. Communication skills for health assessment
  3. Establishing a nurse patient relationship
3. Assessment of Psychosocial Health
  1. Stress and coping
  2. Roles and relationship
  3. Gathering data
  4. Physical observations
4. Assessment of Activities of Daily Living
  1. Nutrition
  2. Exercise
  3. Sleep and rest
  4. Work patterns
  5. Leisure
5. Assessment of Family, Culture, and Environment
  1. Relationships
  2. Support systems
  3. Educational background
  4. Socioeconomic/cultural/religion
6. Physical Assessment
  1. Basic assessment skills
    1. Inspection
    2. Palpation
    3. Percussion
    4. Auscultation
    5. Interpretation
  2. Guidelines for conducting the Physical Assessment
    1. Preparing the setting
    2. Consent
  3. Assessment of the Integumentary System
  4. Assessment of the Head and Neck
  5. Assessment of the Respiratory System
  6. Assessment of the Cardiovascular & Peripheral Vascular System
  7. Assessment of the Breast and Axillae
  8. Assessment of the Abdomen
  9. Assessment of the Urinary System
  10. Assessment of the Reproductive System
  11. Assessment of the Musculoskeletal System
  12. Assessment of the Neurologic System
  13. Assessment of the Older Adult
Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
Texts are on reserve in the library. Interactive videos are available through various online resources. Equipment required for all re-demonstrations is available in the college laboratory.

Courses + Programs

NURS220 Nursing Health Assessment

Department of Health Sciences: Nursing

Course Learning Goals

Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities

Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals

Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student: