Neurologic Assessment Much of the neurologic assessment is ongoing as you take a health history and perform the other components of a full physical assessment. When focusing on the neurologic system, it is helpful to organize the neurologic assessment into five...

Neurovascular Assessment Neurovascular assessment is performed when there is a suspicion of compromised blood flow or nerve damage, to detect early signs and symptoms of acute ischemia or compartment syndrome. Examples of injuries or procedures that place patients at risk...

Pain Assessment To assess pain adequately and accurately, a multidisciplinary, measurement-based approach is best.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) The American Psychiatric Association (2022) describes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a “psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, series of events or set of circumstances. An...

Pulmonary Assessment Focused pulmonary assessment begins with a thorough health history. While doing so, carefully observe for conversational dyspnea and other symptoms. Order of examination is performed as inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.Optimal...

Recognizing and Managing Adult Viral Infections Adult viral illnesses are on the rise in a post-pandemic season. Cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza have increased with the loosening of COVID mitigation strategies, resuming of social interactions as well as reduced masking...

Recognizing and Managing Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening systemic allergic reaction, typically rapid in onset with airway, breathing, or circulatory problems, and usually but not always, associated with skin and mucosal changes (Cardona et al., 2020). The goal...

Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) for Acute Ischemic Events Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is approved by the U.S. FDA to treat acute ischemic stroke (AIS), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to reduce mortality and incidence of heart failure, and acute massive pulmonary embolism (PE). Use the following...

Transporting Critically Ill Patients Critically ill patients are transported within an institution or to other hospitals to obtain additional care that is not available at the current location, such as diagnostic studies, specialized care units, or clinical expertise. Transporting...

Understanding Different Types of Pain Pain is an uncomfortable signal that something hurts. Pain intensity may vary between mild to unbearable and can significantly impact an individual’s psychosocial, emotional, and physical functioning (National Institute of Health, 2023...