This content is based upon The Correctional Nurse Educator class entitled Abdominal Assessment: Basic Assessment for the Correctional Nurse. The physical examination of the patient begins with inspection. Unique to the sequence of the abdomen, the abdomen is then auscultated, percussed and finally, palpated. Auscultating before the percussion and palpation of the abdomen ensures that the examiner is listening to undisturbed bowel sounds. In addition, if the…
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Abdominal pain is perhaps one of the most frequent complaints listed on a Health Service Request Form in the correctional environment. Changes to routine and diet, stress, and the “unmasking” of symptoms as patients become “detoxed” from substances like alcohol and drugs may contribute to complaints of abdominal problems. It is important that the correctional nurse understand the pathophysiology of the abdomen,…
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ATTRIBUTES NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE PATIENT ADVOCACY Clear Communication Communication is always an area of potential misunderstanding, and especially so when there are two (or more) groups of people from different backgrounds and perceptions, and different missions in the workplace. As healthcare staff, we have certain words, our “healthcare language” if you will, that is perfectly understandable to us and to…
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