Assess test soon...need help....desper...plzzzzz!!!!!!!!!

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How is everyone doing? I will be having an assessment exam soon to do on a patient where my instructor will be looking at every single step that I will be doing. I am very confused with checking edema in a patient, do you visually look everywhere (the whole body) or do you actually use your index finger? If yes, is it everywhere? Are there some areas that you can skip??? PLease guys I really desperately need help!:crying2: I dont know what to do. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:redpinkhe

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

There are many different ways to assess and monitor edema. You will visually look, as other posters have said said, at the body. You will not just run your finger all over the patient. :) Common places lower legs, hands, sacrum, around the eyes, and so on. Lets say you have a patient with edema in the lower legs, you can classify the edema by measuring the depth and rate (the amount of time it takes the indentation to subside) of the pitting in centimeters (1+ = 1 cm, 2+ = 2 cm, etc.) by applying pressure to the site (with your finger). Also, you can monitor daily weights, Listen to lung sounds...I don't know what your instructor is asking for. Is this for a basic head to toe assessment? or specifically an edema assessment??

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i just took phys assessment...all the steps were in the book...do you have a book???????

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