ATI – Skills Module: Physical Assessment Child – Flashcards

X - Allow the child to play with the equipment. (This technique is best used with preschoolers.) X - Encourage expression of thought through puppets. (This technique is best used with toddlers.) ~ USE BOOKS AND OTHER VISUAL AIDS TO ADVANCE THE INTERVIEW. (This technique is very useful for working with school-age children.) x - Use abstract questions to allow the child more freedom in response. (Abstract thinking does not develop until adolescence.)

X - Check for presence of the red reflex. (This test examines the lens of the eye, not whether the child has strabismmus.) X - Check for visual acuity. (A visual acuity examination is not used to determine whether a child has strabismus.) ~ PERFORM THE COVER-UNCOVER TEST. (This test identifies whether the child has strabismus, or nonbinocular vision.) X - Test for pupillary reaction to light. (How the pupils react to light is not used to determine whether a child has strabismus.)

X - The patient's DTRs are 2+ bilaterally. (DTRs are examiened during a neuro examination.) X - The patient is able to read small print at 14 inches. (Visual acuity is examined during a neuro examination.) X - The patient demonstrates short-term recall. (Short term recall is examined during a mental status examination.) ~ THE PATIENT MAKES GOOD EYE CONTACT. (This information is included in the general survey. The general survey includes indentifying the patient's demeanor, mood, and interactions with others.)

~ DOWN AND BACK (This is correct technique for straightening the ear canal because the ear canal of a 2 year old curves upwards.) X - Down and forward (This technique is inappropriate for examining the ear of a child of any age.) X - Up and back (This is correct technique for straightening the ear canal for children 3 years and older.) X - Up and forward (This technique is inappropriate for examining the ear of a child of any age.)

X - Bowel gurgling at 24 per minute, heart in left upper quadrant, right upper quadrant, left lower quadrant, and right lower quadrant. ("Bowel gurgling" is not appropriate terminology. The location of the bowel sounds can be summarized as "all four quadrants.") X - No problems breathing. Lung clear. ("No problems breathing" does not give specific information about rate and rhythm of respiration. Also, location of lung sounds should be documented.) X - Liver palpation normal. (The term "normal" should be avoided when documenting physical assessment findings, as there are different interpretations of "normal.") ~ REGULAR HEART RATE AND RHYTHM: S1, S2 HEARD. (This is clear, concise charting for normal heart sounds.)

~ DESCRIBE THE SYMPTOMS. (Preschoolers are usually able to describe symptoms of their problem.) X - Identify when the problem started. (Preschoolers have varied concepts of time.) X - Specify the cause of the problem. (Preschoolers typically do not have an understanding of cause and effect.) X - Answer questions related to previous health problems. (Preschoolers typically do not have a reliable recall of previous health problems.)

X - Hold your breath. (Taking a deep breath can help the child relax, but holding the breath can increase anxiety as the child wants to inhale.) ~ PLACE YOUR HAND UNDER MINE (Allowing the child to touch her abdomen during the examination will promote relaxation.) X - Turn on your right side.(The lateral position is not appropriate for abdominal palpation.) X - Raise your arms over your head. (Raising the arms over the head makes palpation difficult because the abdominal wall is stretched and tightened.)

X - Position the child on his side and have the parents hold the arms and head down. (This technique might increase fear and discomfort.) ~ HAVE THE PARENT HOLD THE CHILD SECURELY IN HER LAP. (The parent's lap is the most comfortable and secure position for the child.) X -Ask another nurse to come into the room and hold the child. (Asking a stranger to hold the child might increase the child's fear.) -Restrain the child using a blanket to secure his arms against his sides. (Use of physical restraint is a last resort and not appropriate for a routine examination.)

X - Position the arm below the level of the heart while the child is sitting in a chair. (The arm should be positioned at the level of the heart.) X - Release the cuff pressure at a rate of 4-5 mm Hg. (The cuff pressure should be released at a rate of 2 - 3 mm Hg.) X - Inflate the blood pressure cuff slowly. (The cuff should be inflated rapidly.) ~ USE A CUFF WITH A BLADDER COVERING 80-100% OF THE ARM CIRCUMFERENCE. (The bladder should cover 80-100% of the arm circumference to obtain an accurate reading.)

X - Bend the knees and touch the toes. (Touching the toes angles the spine downwards.) X - Stand up straight with the arms at the side. (This position does not allow the spine to be parallel to the floor.) ~ BEND FORWARD WITH THE KNEES STRAIGHT AND THE ARMS DANGLING. (This position allows for adequate visualization of any asymmetry.) X - Lie prone with the arms extended. (The prone position does not allow adequate visualization of any asymmetry.)