C H A P T E R
15
270
assessment
assessment frameworks
cue
data
database
emergency assessment
focused assessment
health assessment
health history
inference
initial assessment
interview
minimum data set
objective data
observation
physical health
assessment
subjective data
time-lapsed assessment
validation
KEY TERMS
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After completing the chapter, the learner should be able to accomplish the following:
1.
Define and describe the purpose of four types of health assessments
2.
Explain the relationship between health assessment and medical assessment
3.
Differentiate between objective and subjective data
4.
Describe the purpose of observation, interview and physical assessment
5.
Obtain a health history using effective interviewing techniques
6.
Identify important sources of data
7.
Plan a health assessment by identifying assessment priorities and structuring the data to be collected
systematically
8.
Identify common problems encountered in data collection, noting their possible cause
9.
Explain when the data need to be validated and several ways in which this may be accomplished
10.
Describe the importance of knowing when to report significant data and the associated documentation
11.
Obtain and document complete, accurate, factual and relevant assessment data.
Assessing
assessment
is the systematic, comprehensive and continu-
ous collection, validation and communication of data about
a person. These
data
reflect how health functioning is
enhanced by health promotion or compromised by illness or
A
SSESSING IS THE FIRST PHASE in the process
of planning, delivering and evaluating care. This
process of
assessment
is explored throughout
this chapter in the context of person-centred care.
Health
