THE PHYSICAL NURSING EXAMINATION OF THE HOSPITALIZED OLDER ADULT

Abstract

This exploratory-descriptive study, with a quantitative approach, aimed to describe the items of the physical examination used by nurses in evaluating the hospitalized older adult. In October 2014, 19 staff nurses who worked in inpatient and intensive care units in a Teaching Hospital in the city of Curitiba were investigated, using a questionnaire with open and closed questions. According to the results obtained, the majority of the nurses mentioned items referent to the general physical examination: level of consciousness (32%), nutritional status (21%) and mobility (21%); and to the specific physical examination: skin integrity, mentioned in various anatomical regions; thoracic symmetry (58%); pulmonary auscultation (53%); head hygiene (53%); edema of the extremities (53%); lymph nodes of the neck, peripheral perfusion, and hygiene of genitalia, with 42% respectively. It is concluded that the items used by the nurses in evaluating the hospitalized older adult are imperfect both in theoretical knowledge and in practical skill.

Keywords

• Physical examination
• Nurses
• Older adult