Physical Assessment

Physical Examination: What Is a Physical Exam?

ABCDE

• airway
• breathing
• circulation - includes blood pressure
• disabilities
• exposure - presentation of patient

Preparation for physical exam

• infection prevention - PPE
• environment - privacy, minimal distraction
• equipment
• patient preparation - explain procedures, make patient comfortable

Head toe assessment

• general survey - apparent state of health, level of consciousness, signs of distress
• vital signs
• integumentary - skin, hair, scalp, nails
• head and neck
• eyes, ears
• nose and sinuses
• mouth and pharynx
  • buccal mucosa (lining of cheeks and lips), gums, teeth
  • tongue
• throat - pharynx, neck
• chest
  • heart
  • breast
• torso / extremities
  • deep tendon reflex
• abdomen
  • auscultate first before palpation or percussion
• genitalia
• rectum, anus

Physical assessment techniques

• inspection - visual
• palpation - tactile / touch; use of hands
• percussion - striking or tapping - percussion note / sound
• auscultation - hearing; usage of stethoscope

Vital Signs

Vital signs - Wikipedia
Vital Signs
Vital Signs (Body Temperature, Pulse Rate, Respiration Rate, Blood Pressure) | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Auscultation

Auscultation - Wikipedia
Auscultation - Physiopedia
Auscultation: Definition, Purpose & Procedure
Chest Auscultation: Explanation & Procedure | Ausmed
Heart & Lung Auscultation Points and Locations | Osmosis
Auscultation of the respiratory system - PMC

Palpation

Palpation - Wikipedia
Palpation: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Palpation Purpose & Technique
The Role of Palpation in Medicine

Percussion

Information on Percussion Techniques  - University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Percussion: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Percussion - Physiopedia
Percussion (medicine) - Wikipedia

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) | Ausmed
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS): What It Is, Interpretation & Chart
Glasgow Coma Scale - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

Deep Tendon Reflexes

Physiology, Deep Tendon Reflexes - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
Deep Tendon Reflexes (Stanford Medicine 25) - YouTube
Deep Tendon Reflexes | Stanford Medicine 25 | Stanford Medicine

Abdominal Exam

Abdominal Exam Demo (Strong Exam) - YouTube

Respiratory Lung Assessment

Respiratory Lung Auscultation | Health Assessment for Nursing Students - YouTube