Laboratory Guide

Chapter 03: Techniques and Equipment for Physical Assessment

Techniques

Examination Techniques Document Response

Inspection
Color:     
 Inspect the skin on the forearm of your
lab partner. What is the overall color? Hair color/distribution:      
Do you see any variations in color or
texture? Note the hair on the arm— Lesions:     
amount, color, patterns.
 Do you see a lesion (scar, mole, etc.) on
the forearm? If so, where is it located;
what size is it?

Palpate a radial pulse

Palpation deep light      

 With your lab partner, practice light Palpate the texture of skin
palpation with your fingertips and deep deep light      
palpation with your hands. In the column
to the right, indicate the type of Palpate the abdomen
palpation appropriate for the example deep light      
given. Palpate tenderness over a muscle
deep light      

Skin Palpation
 Touch the skin of your lab partner. Note
the temperature, moisture, and skin Temperature:      
texture. Document your palpation
findings at the right. Moisture:      

Texture:      

Empty cardboard box:      

Percussion
Table surface:      
 Practice indirect finger percussion using
the surface of the following three Liquid-filled plastic container:
objects: an empty cardboard box, a table      
surface, and a liquid-filled plastic
container.
- Can you hear percussion tones?
- Can you hear differences in the
tones of the various objects?

Examination Techniques Document Response

Copyright © 2013 by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

 Chapter 03: Techniques and Equipment for Physical Assessment

Page 2

- Practice indirect finger percussion with

Abdomen—stomach      
your lab partner. Percuss over the
following places: abdomen over the
Abdomen—liver      
stomach; abdomen over the liver; chest
over the lung field; and chest over the
Chest—lung      
sternum.
- Can you hear percussion tones?
Chest—sternum      
- Can you hear differences in tones
as you percuss the different areas?

Auscultation
Yes No
With your lab partner, listen through
your stethoscope and attempt to hear Abdomen
sounds at the following locations:
abdomen, carotid artery, lungs, heart, Carotid artery
brachial artery. Indicate "Y" or "N"
whether you can hear sounds Lungs

Heart

Brachial artery

Equipment
With a lab partner, complete the following activities using the equipment available in your lab.

Thermometers

 Electronic thermometer:
- Put a disposable sheath over the probe. How does the thermometer turn on?      

- What temperature unit is the electronic thermometer calibrated in?

Fahrenheit Celsius Both
 Tympanic thermometer:
- Put a disposable sheath over the probe. How does the thermometer turn on?      

- What temperature unit is the electronic thermometer calibrated in?

Fahrenheit Celsius Both

Stethoscope

Copyright © 2013 by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

 Chapter 03: Techniques and Equipment for Physical Assessment

Page 3

 Identify the following parts of your stethoscope: earpiece, tubing, head (bell and diaphragm).
     

 If your stethoscope has a two-sided head, turn it to the bell and then to the diaphragm. How can
you tell which side is engaged?      

 Place the earpieces in your ears, pointing forward. Gently rub or tap the head of the stethoscope
to elicit sound.      

Sphygmomanometer/Cuffs

 Practice placing and removing a cuff on your lab partner's arm.

 Compare various sizes of cuffs. Practice steps involved in determining a correct fit on your lab
partner.      

 Holding the cuff tightly wrapped in your hand, practice inflating the cuff with the inflation
bulb, then slowly deflate the cuff using the control knob next to the inflation bulb.

 If your lab has one, examine a noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) or electronic blood pressure
device. How does the procedure for placing a cuff differ compared with the manual BP cuffs?
     

 Determine how to turn the device on and off. Identify the display for blood pressure
measurement. What other information is displayed?      

Doppler

 If available, read the instructions that accompany the Doppler.

 Turn the Doppler on and listen to the vascular tones over the radial or brachial artery of your
lab partner. What sounds do you hear over the vessel?      

Pulse Oximeter

 If available, review the instructions for using the pulse oximeter.

Copyright © 2013 by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

 Chapter 03: Techniques and Equipment for Physical Assessment

Page 4
 Turn on the device, place the probe on the finger of your lab partner, and record the SaO 2.
Level=       %

 What does this mean?      

Ophthalmoscope

 Learn how to put on and take off the head of the ophthalmoscope.

 What is the power source for your instrument?      

 Turn on the power switch to your instrument. Shine the light from the instrument against your
hand. Turn the aperture dial and observe the various settings: large light, small light, red-free
filter, slit light, and grid light. As you shine these on your hand, identify each setting.      

 Locate the lens selector dial. Turn the lens and observe the red and black numbers.

 Look through the eyepiece at your hand (or another object) and slowly turn the lens selector
dial. Become familiar with adjusting the magnification while looking through the eyepiece.

Otoscope

 Learn how to put on and take off the head of the otoscope.

 What is the power source for your instrument?      

 Compare adult and pediatric speculums (black, cone-shaped pieces).

 Place a speculum on the head of the otoscope.      

 Turn on the power switch to your instrument. Shine the light from the instrument against your
hand.

 Look through the lens at your hand or another small object.

Copyright © 2013 by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

 Chapter 03: Techniques and Equipment for Physical Assessment

Page 5
Tuning Fork

 Identify the type or types of tuning forks available in your lab.      

 Strike the tuning fork against the palm of your hand. Are you able to hear and feel vibrations?
     

Goniometer

 Inspect the goniometer. What is the calibration for measurement?      

 Set the goniometer at the following angles: 90°, 60°, 110°, 45°, 10°, 20°

 Ask your lab partner to partially flex his or her elbow. Attempt to measure the angle with the
goniometer.

Skin-Fold Calipers

 Read the instructions that come with the calipers, if available.

 Inspect the calipers. What are the calibrations for measurement?      

 Manipulate the calipers. Measure the thickness of a small book, a pen or pencil, and a cell
phone.
Book Pen/pencil Cell phone

Ruler and Tape Measure

 Note the units of measurement on your ruler :       Tape measure:      

 Measure the following spots with your ruler. Write your measurements in the space provided.

     
a.

Copyright © 2013 by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.

 Chapter 03: Techniques and Equipment for Physical Assessment

Page 6
     

b.

     

c.

 Measure the circumference of your lab partner's left wrist and his or her left forearm, 4 inches
below the elbow.
Record your measurements. Left wrist       Left forearm      

Vaginal Speculum

 Compare the various types of speculums in your lab. Indicate which ones are available:
Pederson Graves' Pediatric
 Become familiar with the manipulation of a metal speculum.
How does the top blade move?      
How is the top blade locked into position?      
How can the proximal end of the speculum be adjusted?      

 How does a plastic speculum differ from a metal speculum?      

Copyright © 2013 by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier Inc.