The Advanced health care assessment class has by far been the most challenging in terms of time spent on the class and dusting off the old study skills of reading and a lot of memorization. The class has also been my favorite and I wouldn't have minded spending maybe 2 "mini mesters" on assessment skills.
When beginning the program, the amount of writing was painstaking. Now, it's not a problem at all. This class has been the most traditional: actual face to face contact hours, a textbook, and in person check-offs, group projects and a final exam (rather than a final paper).
The textbook is comprehensive, beautifully filled with photographs and illustrations. I rented the book, but will end up buying it. The book by Jarvis (2012) considers pyschosocial, cultural and developmental factors that affect the health assessment process. For instance, while simultaneously learning how to systematically approach a complete nutrition assessment, the author not only describes needs of the aging body, but explains factors such as limited income after retirement and social isolation that affect nutrition.
In addition to the book being laid out clearly, the margins are highlighted with implications of the techniques being described and possible abnormal findings. There is an emphasis on appropriate communication and interviewing techniques to facilitate the health assessment such as asking open ended questions and not talking down to the patient. When suspicious of possible drug abuse, for instance, the practitioner should not be perceived as judgmental, but rather, interested in fact finding and able to offer practical solutions and treatment.
Finally, in order to gather full data and conduct and appropriate and useful assessment, the techniques we learned were all centered around systemization. Subjective to objective; head to toe; inspection then palpation, percussion and auscultation. Where appropriate, the systematic approach is, of course, tailored to the system itself. For example, the abdomen should be auscultated before being palpated.
I've felt that I've grown in competency and skills after having completed this course and look forward to the next semester's research course...with a healthy bit of nervousness.
