NU 333-01: Physical Assessment For The Nursing Professional

Michaela P. Capulong

NU 333-01: Physical Assessment for the Nursing Professional

May 17, 2015

Journal 1

The interview process is the most essential assessment tool to implement appropriate care of the patient’s optimal outcomes. Assessment is an important skill of a nurse. Also, assessment not only includes doing thorough head-to-toe exam but also listening to what patients have to say. Our assessment usually tells us when things have been overlooked and need to be addressed. Nurses should focus on what they can do for their patients.

“In a holistic model, assessment factors are expanded to include such things as culture and values, family and social roles, self-care behaviors, job-related stress, developmental tasks, and failures and frustrations

Additionally, support and treatments will be implemented if these elements are identified appropriately to our assessment. Culture and beliefs has consistently affected how individuals seek, obtain, practice and acquire medical intervention. Individuals vary in their choices and it is important to clearly establish the preferences of each patient. It is essential that the health care team “establishes trust with people whose beliefs are different and to work with the client’s different beliefs to achieve a healing relationship” (Blais and Hayes, 2011, page 382). However, respect for a patient's wishes can conflict with the obligation to help and not to harm the patient. Orem’s theory exhibits in my nursing practice; because my role is to perform a detailed assessment, and assist my patients accomplish their activities of daily living according to their diagnosis. I assist my patients adapt physically and emotionally to lifestyle changes, and teach them with new skills. In addition to that, I encourage patients to be as independent as possible in performing their self-care. It is essential for a nurse to know the development task of each stage of development. Nurses should ensure that the developmental task of the patient that we are taking care is met. Successful achievement of the patient’s developmental task can lead to happiness, while failure can lead unhappiness and will have difficulty with the next task. Job-related stress can cause medical and psychological problems such as hypertension, depression, weight gain or loss, problems with relationships, and increased anxiety. It is imperative for the nurse to assess the patient’s stressors to improve their stress management skills. In our unit, we are fortunate