OBJECTIVES

Differentiate initial, baseline and focused assessment. Discuss the importance of each type of assessment. Outline a systematic approach to baseline assessment. Review the primary assessment techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Discuss performance tips associated with each assessment technique. Differentiate between systolic and diastolic murmurs. Relate abnormal assessment findings to pathophysiological causes. Using clinical scenarios, identify common assessment findings frequently seen with disorders of the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological systems. Discuss the fundamentals of a neurological assessment including verbal response, eye response, and motor response. Discuss the value of percussion and palpation in a focused gastrointestinal exam. Perform an integrated assessment of a patient with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.