Tips on Head to Toe Assessment on Down syndrome pt

[CyborgRocko]

Hi I started my first clinical rotation this semester and my first patient is someone with down syndrome. I know very little on how to approach my assessment with this patient.

His age development is at around a 1-2 year old. He is able to speak in single words but cannot fully understand everything that I am saying. Since he is an older gentleman I can't easily move him around like I would a toddler.

I would like to know if anyone here has tips on how I should tailor my approach with this patient on how to speak to him to better assess his cranial nerves, motor, cognitive, HEENT etc. I've been doing more research on down syndrome (since we haven't really covered the subject this early into the program) and am looking to see what others say. Any tips to better my assessment would be greatly appreciated.

[Sour Lemon]

Not everything is assessable in every patient. UTA (unable to assess) is a perfectly acceptable placeholder in those cases.

[TruvyNurse]

I agree with Sour Lemon. That would be perfectly acceptable. Also if your patient appears uncomfortable or pulls away, you could always say "deferred." Refusal does not always have to be verbal in my opinion and with that special population, you want to establish trust and comfort.