Advanced Health Assessment

Nursing Students NP Students

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Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

Hello all, when I did my NP advanced health assessment class I actually had it on ground with a partner that we had to actually examine and then memorize the head to toe. I have a friend who is doing her NP online and was asking me about how the online NP students get their practice for this class. I had no advice since I did not have that problem. Any of you have any pointers? Those that are doing their NP online? Thx

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Most online schools I know of have you do 75 hours or so of clinical with your preceptor during health assessment so you can practice.

I did not take health assessment on-line, but my school does offer it on-line. You are required to do 40 hours of clinical with a preceptor during the semester to practice assessment skills, or if you can get to campus, you can work with other students and a clinical instructor. But either way you have to do your 40 hours. In the classroom version, you also have a 40-hour clinical.

Specializes in Emergency.

We have a campus visit at the end of the term that constitutes the hands on portion of the class.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Okay - back to the topic at hand which is how do online programs fulfill the requirements for advanced assessment.

This is not a brick and mortar vs online education thread.

Specializes in Urology NP.

I attended a program as a distance learner but both groups (online and on-campus) were required to complete 65 hours in an appropriate setting. The difference was that they had access to the labs and all necessary equipment to be able to practice when they wanted. Although not required, I purchased an otoscope, ophthalmoscope, reflex hammer, tongue depressors, etc, as these were not always readily available in my clinical site. I also set up practice sessions where I would arrange for various family members and friends to come in for their complimentary comprehensive assessment. Both student groups had to be on campus to be tested out at mid-term and end of term for skills test. We were required to perform comprehensive assessments on trained actors while being watched on monitors by several instructors. The actors are trained to know whether our technique, communication, etc., is appropriate. We were timed and had to be able to complete the assessment in 30 minutes or less. It was pass/fail and graded based on the actor's input and instructors' observation. The university has numerous resources available such as examination videos, recordings, etc., which were also very helpful and were expected to be knowledgeable of as we were tested very comprehensively.

Specializes in Family Practice.

I attend University of Colorado - Colorado Springs online program. We have the option of attending an on-campus lab for Advanced Assessment class but those of us that are not within driving distance obtain a preceptor and a clinical site, and complete 45 hours of preceptorship. As our final project for the class, we have to perform a complete head to toe physical on a partner using a rubric that is about 5 pages long, video tape it using one take and no notes or references, and submit.

Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

I am currently involved in online advanced H&P. We have 60 hours of patient interaction. I am doing this at a local clinic. Each week, we try to arrange more patient contact with attention to the system...cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal... My preceptor has been very beneficial. She told me I must vocalize what I am doing, why, and my findings so that when I am "graded" it will be second nature. We make sure the patient is agreeable to my performing the assessment. That being said, one patient per clinical day must have a complete head to toe assessment, history, and ROS.

Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

Interesting! Thanks for your responses. Looks like there are many elements to doing a online health assessment.

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Specializes in Primary care.
I attend University of Colorado - Colorado Springs online program. We have the option of attending an on-campus lab for Advanced Assessment class but those of us that are not within driving distance obtain a preceptor and a clinical site, and complete 45 hours of preceptorship. As our final project for the class, we have to perform a complete head to toe physical on a partner using a rubric that is about 5 pages long, video tape it using one take and no notes or references, and submit.

lauraross1; I'm researching UCCS FNP for Fall enrollment, is there a site on allnurses for UCCS? I'd like to hear/read from current student about the program. Thanks!

Specializes in Family Practice.
ajboujieajboujie, I haven't seen a forum for UCCS on here. I am in my second semester in the MSN-FNP program, and I like it. I attend school full time and work part time (2 12hr shifts/week). I started out working full time but had to drop to part time midway through my first semester in order to keep up with all the work. I like the program - I think I will be well prepared when I graduate.
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