In: Nursing
The nurse receives an adult patient in the outpatient clinic.
The physician requested a focused assessment. The patient ask the
nurse "what is the difference between a
focused and a comprehensive assessment?" The nurse explains
that:
Difference between Focused and comprehensive assessment:
Focused Assessment:
- It is an assessment of a particular body system or body
process.
- eg.The patient just had a baby, you perform a post-partum
assessment (breast, uterus, bowel, bladder, lochia, episiotomy, and
pain).
- Focused or problem centered database is limited or short term problem.
i.e. cough for 2 days= history and examination focused on respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
Comprehensive assessment:
- It is the complete health history, full physical
examination.
- It describes current and past health state.
- Forms baseline i.e. first diagnosis.
-The order of sections of the Comprehensive Assessment is as follows:
• General skills, Subjective data, Objective data, Head and face, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth and throat, Neck, Posterior thorax, Anterior thorax, Heart (upright), Breasts, Heart (supine), Abdomen, Lower extremities, Upper extremities, Neurologic, Musculoskeletal.