Digital Rectal Exam Digital rectal examination begins with a detailed health history, while ensuring patient privacy. Carefully observe for nonverbal cues of pain or discomfort. Obtain consent for the examination and secure a chaperone. Order of examination is...

Discharge Planning for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus For patients with diabetes mellitus, effective discharge planning involves teaching patients the skills and knowledge needed to maintain blood glucose targets. The patient should be provided with a clear well-documented post discharge plan that is...

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious condition in which coagulation and fibrinolysis are unusually triggered, resulting in continuous clotting, bleeding and/or thrombosis (Leung, 2023). DIC, also known as consumption...

Enteral Nutrition in the Hospital Hospitalized patients who are not able to eat for extended periods of time require an alternative source of nutrition that can be provided in both enteral (intestinal) and parenteral (non-intestinal) liquid forms. This pocket card provides an...

Fundoscopic Exam A fundoscopy, also known as ophthalmoscopic, retinal, or funduscopic exam, is a test used to screen for eye disorders, injuries, and diseases. It can be one of the more challenging procedures performed during both routine physical examinations and...

General Assessment Focused general assessment begins with taking a detailed health history regarding constitutional symptoms. This examination involves a general survey of the patient, measurement of vital signs, and pain assessment.Optimal Patient...

Guide to Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), also known as vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC), is a dressing system that continuously or intermittently applies negative pressure across the surface of wounds that are acute, chronic, complex, or...

Head to Toe Assessment Organization is key to a good comprehensive head to toe assessment. A systematic approach will maximize the patient’s comfort, avoid unnecessary position changes, and enhance clinical efficiency. In general, a head-to-toe approach is the...

Heart Failure: Guideline-Directed Management and Therapy Guideline-Directed Management and Therapy (GDMT) was developed by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association to define the optimal course of treatment for patients in each stage of heart failure (HF) (Heidenreich, et al...

HEENT Assessment Most physical assessments begin at the top with the head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat (HEENT) assessment. The patient is typically positioned sitting upright, allowing the examiner to systemically work down through each body system...

Informed Consent Informed consent is a process of communication between a patient and a health care provider that results in the patient’s agreement to undergo a procedure or treatment. It is both a legal and ethical obligation. The provider educates the...

Isolation Precautions Isolation precautions create barriers between microbes and patients, staff, and equipment to prevent the spread of infection in the health care setting.