Types of Assessment
- Emergency assessment
- Limited to assessing life-threatening conditions (e.g., inhalation, injuries, anaphylaxis, myocardial infarction, shock, stroke)
- This involves a rapid history and examination of a patient while maintaining vital functions.
- Conducted to ensure survival. Focuses on elements in primary survey (e.g., airway, breathing, circulation, disability)
- Comprehensive assessment
- Typically done on admission to the hospital or onset of care in a primary care setting that include detailed health history and physical examination of all body systems.
- Focused assessment
- To evaluate the status of previously identified problems and monitor for signs and symptoms of new problems
- Include abbreviated assessment for the various specific body systems
- Conducted throughout hospital admission—at beginning of a shift and as needed throughout shift
