As you and the patient develop rapport with each

collaborate strategies and solutions. As you and the patient develop rapport with each other, the
patient feels respected and understood.” (Jensen, 2015, p. 20).
You should always utilize the nurse-patient relationship which focuses on verbal and
nonverbal communication. It is our duty to maintain this professional relationship to ensure our
patients get the proper care. Proper communication is the most crucial components of an
assessment. (Jensen, 2015, p. 20).
Through our interview, we collect subjective data which we will use to collect our
objective data. The nurse should use open ended questions as much as possible to allow the
patient to do most of the talking. We want to evoke more than a yes or no question. For example,

PATIENT ANALYSIS AND TEACHING TOOL 4
asking, “What brought you in today?” or “Tell me more about how you manage your diabetes.”
allows the patient to be the focus of the interview. The nurse should always utilize therapeutic
communication and empathy when dealing with patients. (Jensen, 2015, p. 20).
When moving onto the physical aspect of the assessment, it’s crucial to know your
audience. Some patients have not had much experience with healthcare, so they might not know
what to expect. Always explain what and why you are doing. In addition, certain religions might
not favor physical contact as much – therefore always ask before you touch.
Data Collection & Appropriateness of Data Collection Techniques
Every single body system starts off with inspection. You can collect a lot of data just by
looking at the individual i.e. psoriasis, scoliosis, hirsutism and overall well-being. By looking at
Ms. Jones, I was able to identify that she has acanthosis nigricans, acne, protuberant abdomen,
striae and moles.
Following inspection comes palpation (except with the abdomen). With palpation, you
can assess texture, temperature, moisture, size, shape, location, position, vibration, crepitus,
tenderness, pain and edema. (Jensen, 2015, p. 49). As stated above, always ask if you can touch
them prior to doing so. Light palpation can allow the patient to get used to your touch. (Jensen,
2015, p. 49). You should start off light to identify any areas of pain; the patient may not be able
to initially handle the deep palpation. Afterwards, tell the patient “I am going to press harder
now, tell me if you feel pain or want me to stop”. Deep palpation allows you to assess the size,
shape and consistency of abdominal organs. However, you should not palpate after inspection
with the abdomen. With the abdominal system, palpation is the third step (auscultation is
second). “Auscultation is performed following inspection; the abdomen should be auscultated

PATIENT ANALYSIS AND TEACHING TOOL 5
before percussion or palpation to prevent production of false bowel sounds.” (AMN Healthcare,
2014).
Next, you percuss. Percussion produces sound or elicits tenderness. You will percuss the
lungs, abdomen, flank and sinuses. I used this technique to identify if Ms. Jones has healthy
lungs (resonance), measuring the dullness and size of her liver and kidney problems (CVA
tenderness).