1. PRINCIPLES OF THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

2. GENERAL SURVEY Exam begins the minute you first see the patient
Exam continues throughout your patient interaction

3. OBSERVATION
WEALTH OF INFORMATION!!!!

4. STATURE

5. HEALTH STATUS

6. WEIGHT

7. PERSONAL HYGIENE

8. SKIN COLOR /LESIONS

9. BREATH/ODOR

10. MOOD/ATTITUDE

11. WHEN WE PERFORM A PHYSICAL EXAM WE USE

12. TECHNIQUES OF THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
VISUAL INSPECTION
PALPATION
PERCUSSION
AUSCULATION

13. VISUAL INSPECTION INSPECT CAREFULLY ALL AREAS OF EXAM
DOCUMENT BOTH NORMAL AND ABNORMAL FINDINGS

14. PALPATION

15. PALPATION TEXTURE SIZE CONSISTENCY CREPITUS MASSES
EXAMPLE – TAKING A PULSE, HEAD AND NECK EXAM

16. PERCUSSION

17. PERCUSSION USE OF THE HANDS AND FINGERS
STRIKING ONE OBJECT AGAINST ANOTHER

18. AUSCULATION

19. AUSCULATION LISTENING FOR SOUNDS PRODUCED BY THE BODY
BLOOD PRESSURE, INTESTINAL SOUNDS

20. PHYSICAL EXAMINATIN MINUTES TO HOURS TO PERFORM
OBSERVATION TO HANDS ON
CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CARE OF THE PATIENT
SYSTEMATIC AND THOROUGH