Clinical Skills Examination Procedures: Afrikaans & Xhosa

Abstract:

Shown here are a single set of techniques which are both simple to employ and reliable for four examinations. General Examination: preparing the patient for examination; describing the patient's appearance; examination for features of specific illnesses; taking the pulse; assessing warmth, perfusion, hydration and temperature; inspecting the hands, eyes, mouth and pharynx; looking for lymphadenopathy; and inspecting the legs. Abdominal Examination: preparing the patient for the examination; looking for some signs of abdominal disease on a focused general examination; inspecting the abdomen; light palpation for areas of tenderness; detecting peritonism; determining the position and size of the liver by percussion and palpation; determining the position and size of the spleen by percussion and palpation; confirming the presence of ascite;s other features of portal hypertension; examining the iliac fossae and suprapubic region; detecting enlarged kidneys; identifying other abdominal masses ;and listening for bowel sounds. Respiratory examination: preparing the patient for the examination; looking for some signs of respiratory disease on a focused general examination; looking at the pattern of breathing; assessing the degree of expansion of the chest and its symmetry by inspection and by palpation; assessing the position of the trachea; percussing the chest for dullness and resonance; listening to the breath sounds by auscultation. Cardio vascular examination: getting your patient into the right position; general assessment; assessing the pulse; measuring blood pressure; measuring jugular venous pressure; palpation of the praecordium; palpation of the apex; auscultation of the heart; and signs of heart failure.

Subject:

Science and Technology

Grade Level:

Post-secondary

Collection:

University of Cape Town