somatic evidence? definition needed

[snwflknurse]

I am typing up my assessment from clinicals this week and working on the nutrition portion. On the physical assessment portion it states "somatic evidence"

um.....WHAT? somatic evidence of what? anything?

HELP!

[URO-RN]

mistake emotional pain for physical symptom.

r/t or affecting the body, especially the body,as considered to be separate from the mind.

[purplekath]

Somatic means "body" evidence -- so for nutrition you will be looking for physical evidence of nutritional status. For example, skin, hair, fingernails etc. Also weight - is your pt underweight/overweight? Do they show any signs of deficiencies in any areas? For example, some vitamin deficiencies will show physical evidence in the gums etc. A severely malnourished patient may have atrophied muscles, urinary difficulties (as they lose the adipose capsule that holds the kidneys in place they can get kinks in the ureters).

You may want to check urinalysis results (for ketones etc) and blood test results that may indicate a nutritional problem (such as anaemia).

[snwflknurse]

Somatic means "body" evidence -- so for nutrition you will be looking for physical evidence of nutritional status. For example, skin, hair, fingernails etc. Also weight - is your pt underweight/overweight? Do they show any signs of deficiencies in any areas? For example, some vitamin deficiencies will show physical evidence in the gums etc. A severely malnourished patient may have atrophied muscles, urinary difficulties (as they lose the adipose capsule that holds the kidneys in place they can get kinks in the ureters).

You may want to check urinalysis results (for ketones etc) and blood test results that may indicate a nutritional problem (such as anaemia).

THANKS!