(Answered) NR 305 Week 7 Discussion: Assessment Techniques

NR 305 Week 7 Discussion

In Week 6 you demonstrated a head to toe assessment of an adult participant. This week you and your classmates will reflect on the assessment you performed for your video assignment, and also apply this week’s lesson on family assessment.

Please consider the following in your initial post:

1. Reflect on the assessment you performed for the video assignment. Perhaps you might compare your performance now, to how it might have been different when you were a brand new nurse? Or share something you learned (or were reminded of) by participating in this activity?
2. Based on your observations, do you feel that patient assessments performed in practice are as thorough as they should be? Explain your answer.
3. This week’s lesson focuses on assessment of families and introduces specific assessment opportunities for racially diverse, same sex, and adoptive families. Select one of these three non-traditional families. How would your assessment technique change to be sure that you were competently caring for a member of this type of family unit? This may include questions you would add to the health history, or ways in which you would communicate.

NR 305 Week 7 Discussion Answer

Reflecting on the assessment process, I’ve observed a significant evolution in my skills compared to my early days as a nurse. The confidence in my ability to assess and communicate with patients has notably improved. Through this experience, I’ve gained a profound understanding of the pivotal role professionalism plays in fostering an effective patient assessment process. Key components such as respect, integrity, attitude, discipline, and responsibility have emerged as crucial elements in ensuring comprehensive and meaningful patient evaluations.NR 305 Week 7 Discussion

However, an observation has surfaced regarding the limitations of patient assessments conducted in the clinical setting, indicating a gap in achieving a truly comprehensive patient evaluation. Often, assessments tend to be organ or system-specific, lacking a holistic “head-to-toe” approach.

For instance, when presented with a patient complaint of constipation, the focus may be solely on the gastrointestinal system, neglecting potential issues in other vital systems like respiratory or cardiovascular. This practice can result in overlooking significant, unrecognized health problems in other areas.

Therefore, it is imperative for nurses to strive towards a more holistic approach, conducting thorough assessments that encompass various body systems to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s overall health (Smith et al., 2020). By adopting such a comprehensive strategy, healthcare professionals can enhance the accuracy of diagnoses and contribute to more effective patient care.NR 305 Week 7 Discussion