What do you use when you walk in a room?

[JillFRN]

Ok, so sometimes I feel like there are so many things to remember, but what are the things you look at when you walk into a patient's room? Are there any little checklists you can have that are beneficial, I guess I am more of a list person and like those. I just wonder what you use until you are completely comfortable and can remember everything.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

I look at:

1. the patient and what, in general, do they look like (comfortable, distressed, safe)
   
2. where are the siderails and call bell
   
3. where are the patient's arms and legs and what is going on with them
   
4. what kind of equipment is at the bedside, is it (supposed to be) turned on or off
   
5. is anything surrounding the bed out of place
   

Notice that I sort of focus on the patient who is at the middle of a circle and begin working outward. I always ask the patient how they are doing, if there is anything they need and then be prepared to follow up on the answers I get.

[shrimpchips, LPN]

Are you looking for something like an assessment checklist? Here is one that they gave us for my older adult class - it's just a basic head-to-toe assessment.

Head To Toe Assessment Checklist Older Adults-1.doc

[kfarinato]

That is a great checklist, I might use it myself!

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Thank you, shrimpchips! I added it to the links on post #4 of the Health Assessment Resources, Techniques, and Forms sticky.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Are you looking for something like an assessment checklist? Here is one that they gave us for my older adult class - it's just a basic head-to-toe assessment.

This is great! Thank you for sharing :)

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

OMG I love this site...I learn a lot and I get some cool tools! What did students do before the internet?

[CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

What did students do before the internet?

All we had were rocks & dull (not even pointy) sticks.

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

All we had were rocks & dull (not even pointy) sticks.

Funny! When I was first a college student, over 20 years ago, it was so different. We had to actually talk to our professors during office hours for extra help.

Tout change!

[prmenrs, RN]

You had sticks?!!!???? Wow!

[DolceVita, ADN, BSN, RN]

You guys are bad!

[CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

You had sticks?!!!???? Wow!

Well, we either had to grow them from seeds (very hard to do in 14 feet of snow, I might add), or gnaw them from petrified forest tree trunks with our teeth. Just call me gummy.