by Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN
Assessment, the starting point to an effective clinical judgment, is an important competency of nurses and other health care providers. When caring for patients, we use a wide range of assessment techniques, including review of the presenting complaint; health history; complete physical assessment; and family, social, and cultural history, to collect sufficient data to plan patient-centered care. However, we all know that in certain clinical situations, a complete assessment is not an appropriate strategy, because of the patient’s condition and/or limited time and resources available. In those situations, a focused assessment that delves into a specific identified problem or issue is more appropriate. Continue reading “Why Effective Assessment is Important to Student Success”