I used to think( and still do sometimes) how am i gonna remember everything to for a physical assessment. but if you really take it in a head to toe approach and think of it as parts instead of a whole( not the pt the actually skill of physical assessment) Break it into parts.. ok Head, what am i assessing in this area( Hair,sclera,conjunctiva,periorbital edema/sunken eyeballs, nasal mm and clear nasal passages, nose/ear drainage etc) you get the picture, then work your way down through each area and pay attention to what you should and should not see and think about the patient disease process,age,developmental level,anything pertinent to the patient situation. I say this because when i had skills check off for Physical Assessment we had a scenario for the pt(mannequin) and had to answer a million questions it was nerve racking but you get though it. Good luck
