Does anyone still teach percussion in assessment?

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Hi, I've taught beginning ADN students physical assessment for several terms now. We had not been teaching percussion. I learned percussion many years ago in my direct-entry BSN program, but rarely rarely used it. I don't think I ever used it as a staff nurse, except to assess for bladder fullness (and we have bladder scanners now).

So I have three related questions-

Do staff RN's use assessment (is it used in current practice settings)?

If you are in a position to teach or evaluate nursing students' assessment skills, do you expect them to be able to percuss?

Do we need to teach ADN students percussion as an assessment technique?

Thank you :)

[HMarie13]

I do not teach so from a students side...I did learn about percussion during my ADN and BSN program. I never used it during bedside assessments but I do think it is helpful to learn just so you understand the concept. Also you understand when a physician is doing it and can explain the reason to your patients if they ask.

[Buyer beware, BSN]

Yes we do. And we need to teach doctors to auscultate lung sounds before defaulting to irradiating a chest. A preponderance of evidence should always precede a diagnosis but maybe I'm just old and in the way.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Yes we do.

Buyer Beware, yes we do what? Use it? If so, in what ways? I teach ADN students, not doctors (although I used to- and I like this much much better).

[JBudd, MSN]

I taught percussion, it is a basic skill whether or not we use it often. We need to remember that not all nursing is done in hospital settings; LTC doesn't always have access to radiology with ease, and the more data you have to back up your request to send someone out the better. I picked up a pneumonia with percussion and auscultation, and constipation combined with history. Rural nursing and public health nurses, without access... and having volunteered in some third world areas, percussion is a useful skill.

[cupcakeluver]

I'm not an educator. Just a new nurse with less than 6 months experience. I just wanted to comment that I was NOT taught percussion in my ADN program. It was explained to us but in very general terms. I was taught that it was a skill performed by advanced practice nurses. Apparently this is not true. I have never seen percussion used during clinicals or where I work now.

I'm pretty new to the game so maybe I will see it eventually. Just wanted to let you know my experience.

[Conniemdaily]

I expose them to it so if they see MD doing it, they know what it is.i have. Them try it on each other. I don't require them to become proficient as it is an advanced skill

[historyfan]

We still teach it and it is addressed in our nursing fundamentals/skills textbook.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

Hi Conniemdaily, I appreciate that approach. I agree that not all teaching needs to lead to proficiency, but that feels like the expectation. I would rather have them focus on the more important aspects. Thanks for that validation.

[CaffeinePOQ4HPRN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I was taught percussion in nursing school.

Percussion was considered a basic skill that we were expected to master along with other head-to-toe physical assessment skills. Such as, for example, inspection/observation, (light) palpation, percussion and auscultation... aka the 4 major components of the lung exam which are also used to examine the heart/abdomen. In my main clinical setting we still use these techniques during assessments, as required/appropriate.

[SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS]

I was taught percussion in nursing school.

Percussion was considered a basic skill that we were expected to master along with other head-to-toe physical assessment skills. Such as, for example, inspection/observation, (light) palpation, percussion and auscultation... aka the 4 major components of the lung exam which are also used to examine the heart/abdomen. In my main clinical setting we still use these techniques during assessments, as required/appropriate.

Hi Caffeine, thanks for posting.

I have two follow-up questions for you- Are you an ADN or BSN? In what specialty do you use percussion?

[mookyjoe, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

We only teach percussion as to how it should be used which now relates more to gas in a belly, but there still are plenty other circumstances. Other techniques are for advanced nurses and are for diagnostic purposes. Everything should be covered in the curriculum as it is presented in their text, which is geared for their level of expertise. Some instructors don't know or remember or teach well so this is why it is skipped. Always default to the student text, this is every aspect that should be taught. Just because they don't cover it in or see it in clinicals means it's even more important to cover in lab days or in post-conference. I never left my students on their floors alone. I was always there to see what they were coming across.