Just wondering how all of you who moved to the US from the UK coped with nursing assessments eg. auscultation and palpation. Did you get training before you went? If so, was it enough? Do you know of any study days in London that deal with heart and lung sounds?
My agency, Adevia have said that they do a study day nearer to the date of departure to the US, but I don't think that this will be enough for me, as we never covered this in my training.
i am doing a college sourse and have just completed a section on physical assessments, the book i bought basically went through the basics followed by assessing all the systems head to toe.,it cost $120 and was only available through a hard bck edition. it was very in depth and not the usual assessments done each day by the nurse.
assessments are a very simple thing once you are doing them. and comes naturally. you soon know whether there is something wrong with a system. sometimes before you even touch the patient, after all if its a chest problem then you are going to hear different lung sounds, if its an abdominal surgery then theres going to be differences in the abdomen, and so on.
I like the assessment made easy, I also like the crash course series and the clinical examination at a glance books. All of them are equal really it just depends which you prefer reading
The Bates' Physical Assessment book with CD is very popular in American nursing schools. The CD goes through a total head to toe assessment including sections for advanced practice nurses. You can also get the pocket guide for quick review while doing patient care.
The Bates' Physical Assessment book with CD is very popular in American nursing schools. The CD goes through a total head to toe assessment including sections for advanced practice nurses. You can also get the pocket guide for quick review while doing patient care.
I work in ITU and at the beiginning of my shift (and if anything indicates deterioration) i'll listen for air entry and bowel sounds. We were never taught in our training how to do this so its something i have learned myself and with the help of more senior staff. Its taking me a long time to feel confident in doing these tasks but i'm aware how important they are. I plan to come to the US soon so am a little nervous about listening to heart sounds etc. Any tips?
Specializes in Dialysis, Nephrology & Cosmetic Surgery.
Rose - if you PM me your e-mail address I can send you bits and bobs from my clinical examination course. I have the presentations and also some web addresses were you can listen to different heart and lung sounds.
You know the American nurses I work with are lovely and if I ever had concerns re lung or heart sounds I would always get a second opinion and nobody ever made me feel stupid.
Plus you have the RT's who will give their take on the subject.
madwife2002, BSN, RN
26 Articles; 4,777 Posts
I am off work sick at the moment but when I return I will ask the girl who told me about it and let you know.