Affirming Care for Patients who are LGBTQIA2+ Affirming care recognizes the significant impact of sexual and gender minority (SGM) status on a person’s health and is critical to ensuring SGM patients receive culturally competent and clinically appropriate care (McElwain & Carr, 2021...

Assessing Fall Risk and Reducing Falls in the Elderly More than one in four American adults 65 years of age and older have reported falling and one in five sustain a severe fall-related injury, including fractures and traumatic brain injuries (CDC, 2021). Falls account for 56% of injury-related...

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...

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...

Integumentary Assessment The integumentary system includes the skin, hair and nails. Make sure there is adequate lighting and have the patient change into a gown. Have a small tape measure or magnifying glass available to measure or examine lesions more closely.

Pulmonary Assessment Focused pulmonary assessment begins with a thorough health history. While doing so, carefully observe for conversational dyspnea and other symptoms. Order of examination is performed as inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.Optimal...

Recognizing and Managing Anaphylaxis Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening systemic allergic reaction, typically rapid in onset with airway, breathing, or circulatory problems, and often associated with skin and mucosal changes (Cardona et al., 2020).  Anaphylaxis is usually...

Recognizing and Managing Influenza In the northern hemisphere, the typical influenza (flu) season starts as early as October and can last until May, affecting individuals in all age groups, with the highest rates of infection among children. There are 4 types of influenza viruses...

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) refer to a variety of clinical syndromes and infections caused by pathogens that can be acquired and transmitted through sexual activity. STDs are very common; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...