This module enables students to gain and expand knowledge and skill in the performance of physical assessment across the lifespan, clinical decision making and the development of practice skills. Physical assessment skills development is based upon a systems approach which compares normal and abnormal findings from physical examination of the following:
Skin, Nails, Hair, Head, eyes, ears nose, throat and neck
Musculoskeletal system
Respiratory system
Female and male health
Cardio and peripheral vascular system
Neurological system and movement
Gastro intestinal
Mental health assessment
History taking will be an integral part of the module
Mental health assessment
History taking will be an integral part of the module

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: (37 hours)
37 hours structured lectures

Guided Independent Study: (113 hours)
30 hours learning with clinical preceptor
83 hours assessment preparation and reading/study time

Library
IT resources
Skills laboratory for taught sessions with appropriate clinical instruments to facilitate physical assessment


Blackboard VLE
Clinical practice placement, practice based preceptor

Students wishing to undertake this module must have written support from their employer and an identified clinical preceptor.

1. A case presentation to the clinical preceptor of a chosen patient's physical health assessment Pass/Fail 0% (contributes to the achievement of learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3)

2. A reflective written case study, demonstrating application and utilization of knowledge and skills in the physical assessment of a selected patient
(2000 words) (assessing learning outcomes 1, 3 and 4) Weighted at 80%

3. A 60 minute multiple choice question paper (60 questions) testing knowledge of systems including. anatomy and physiology/pathophysiology/assessment process (contributes to the achievement of learning outcome 1) weighted at 20%
4. A clinical hours log charting at least 30 hours spent with the clinical preceptor

All 4 components of assessment must be passed

Formative Assessment / Feedback:
skills lab practice, practice feedback, tutorials, scenario discussions, multi choice questions, role play

Bickley, L.S. (2016) Bate's Guide to Physical Assessment. 12th Edition. Philadelphia. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
Jarvis, C. (2015) Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 6th Edition. St Louis. Elsevier.
Raftery, A. T., Lim, E. and Östör, A. J. K. (2014) Differential Diagnosis. Fourth Edition. Edinburgh. Churchill Livingstone. Elsevier.
Schroeder, K. (2017) The 10-Minute Clinical Assessment. 2nd Edition. Chichester. John Wiley and Sons. Bickley, L.S. (2016) Bate's Guide to Physical Assessment. 12th Edition. Philadelphia. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
Jarvis, C. (2015) Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 6th Edition. St Louis. Elsevier.
Raftery, A. T., Lim, E. and Östör, A. J. K. (2014) Differential Diagnosis. Fourth Edition. Edinburgh. Churchill Livingstone. Elsevier.
Schroeder, K. (2017) The 10-Minute Clinical Assessment. 2nd Edition. Chichester. John Wiley and Sons.

1. APPLY CLIENT SENSITIVE PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT SKILLS UTILISING KNOWLEDGE AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF APPLIED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Knowledge & Understanding


2. SUMMARISE AND DISSEMINATE THE FINDINGS OF PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT TO THE PRECEPTOR AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH CARE TEAM, DEMONSTRATING PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING SKILLS
Communication
Problem Solving


3. DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF LIMITATIONS OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS WHEN UNDERTAKING PHYSICAL ASSESSMENTS
Learning


4. IDENTIFY THROUGH CRITICAL REFLECTION ON PRACTICE ANY ELEMENTS OF PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT REQUIRING FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
Reflection

This course is designed for registered nurses and other health professionals in clinical practice who wish to acquire physical examination skills to enhance patient care and optimise service provision. Increasingly nurses and other health care professionals are required to perform patient assessments and make autonomous decisions regarding potential treatment and/or referral. This clinically focused module will form the foundation for your on-going learning in clinical assessment. It is a principles module and as such it will give you basic assessment capabilities. It has been designed to introduce you to the fundamental skills and knowledge required to take a comprehensive history and physical examination of the adult patient.