Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used for both cardiac and pulmonary failure when conventional measures (i.e., mechanical ventilation, intraaortic balloon pump) are inadequate to support life. While not a cure for the underlying...

Female Genitourinary Assessment Focused female genitourinary assessment begins with taking a health history, while providing as much privacy as possible. Observe carefully for signs of pain or discomfort, and nonverbal cues such as guarding. Obtain consent for the examination...

Fundoscopic Exam A fundoscopy, also known as ophthalmoscopic, retinal, or funduscopic exam, is a test used to screen for eye disorders, injuries, and diseases. It can be one of the more challenging procedures performed during both routine physical examinations and...

Gastrointestinal Assessment The focused gastrointestinal system assessment begins with taking a detailed health history. While doing so, observe carefully for non-verbal signs of pain or discomfort. The order of examination is performed as inspection, auscultation...

General Assessment Focused general assessment begins with taking a health history regarding constitutional symptoms. This examination involves a general survey of the patient, measurement of vital signs, and pain assessment.Optimal Patient PositioningExamine the...

Guide to Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), also known as vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC), is a dressing system that continuously or intermittently applies negative pressure across the surface of wounds that are acute, chronic, complex, or...

Head to Toe Assessment Organization is key to a good comprehensive head to toe assessment. A systematic approach will maximize the patient’s comfort, avoid unnecessary position changes, and enhance clinical efficiency. In general, a head-to-toe approach is the...

Heart Failure: Guideline-Directed Management and Therapy Guideline-Directed Management and Therapy (GDMT) was developed by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association to define the optimal course of treatment for patients in each stage of heart failure (HF) (Heidenreich, et al...

HEENT Assessment Most physical assessments begin at the top with the head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat (HEENT) assessment. The patient is typically positioned sitting upright, allowing the examiner to systemically work down through each body system...

Hemodynamic Monitoring Hemodynamic monitoring is a mainstay in the care of critically ill patients and remains a valuable adjunct to physical examination and diagnostics in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of shock (Rali, et al., 2022). It involves using...

Implementing an AED Program in the Faith Community Setting An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a computerized medical device that analyzes a person’s heart rhythm to determine if it is abnormal, life-threatening, and requires an electric shock. Through voice prompts, lights, and text...

Increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP) The cranium is a rigid bony structure that contains three main components: brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and blood. Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) occurs when there is an increase in the volume of one or more components which...