This article will explain how to assess the head and neck as a nurse. This assessment is part of the nursing head-to-toe assessment you have to perform in nursing school and on the job. During the head and neck assessment you will be
assessing the following structures: Inspect the face and hair:
Palpate the cranium and inspect the hair for infestations, hair loss, skin breakdown or abnormalities:
Palpate the temporal artery bilaterally Test Cranial Nerve V…..trigeminal nerve: This nerve is responsible for many functions and mastication is one of them.
Palpate the temporomandibular joint for grating or clicking: Have the patient open and close the mouth and feel for any grating sensation or clicking. Palpate the frontal and maxillary sinuses for tenderness: patient will pressure but should not feel pain Eyes:Inspect the eyes, eye lids, pupils, sclera, and conjunctiva
Test cranial nerves III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear), VI (abducens)
If all these findings are normal you can document PERRLA. Ears:Inspect the ears for:
Tests cranial nerve 8 VIII…vestibulocochlear nerve:
Inspect the tympanic membrane:
Nose:Inspect nose
Test cranial nerve I..….olfactory nerve: Have the patient close their eyes and place something with a pleasant smell under the nose and have them identify it. Mouth:Inspect lips (lip should be pink NOT dusky or blue/cyanotic or cracked, and free from lesions) Inspect the inside of the mouth:
Inspect tongue:
Inspect hard and soft palate and tonsils (no exudate on tonsils) and uvula should be midline Test cranial nerve XII….hypoglossal: have patient stick tongue out and move it side to side Test cranial nerve IX (glossopharyngeal) and X (vagus) have patient say “ah”…the uvula will move up (cranial nerve IX intact) and if the patient can swallow with ease and has no hoarseness when talking, cranial nerve X is intact. Neck:Inspect the trachea
Test cranial nerve XI….accessory nerve: Have the patient move head from side to side and up and down and shrug shoulders against resistance. Inspect for jugular vein distention
Palpate the lymph nodes with the pads of fingers and feel for lumps, hard nodules, or tenderness:
Palpate the tracheaand confirm it is midline Palpate thyroid gland from the back: note for nodules, tenderness or enlargement…normally can’t palpate it. Palpate the carotid artery (one side at a time) and grade it (0 to 4+….2+ is normal) Auscultate for bruits at the carotid artery with BELL of stethoscope (listen for a swooshing sound which is a bruit)…have patient breathe in and out and hold it while listening. You may be interested in watching a complete head-to-toe assessment. Which area is best for assessing symmetry of facial features?A nurse is performing a head and neck assessment on a client. Which area should the nurse inspect for facial symmetry? Explanation: The nasolabial folds are ideal places to check facial features for symmetry.
When assessing your patient's head and neck What would you assess the face for?Inspect and palpate the face for symmetry and obvious signs of trauma, and note any pain on palpation. Facial asymmetry indicates a problem with one or more cranial nerves. Is there facial droop on one side? Ask the patient to close her eyes as tightly as possible and note any differences in eyelid closure.
How do you assess head and face?Inspection. Begin by inspecting the head for skin color and symmetry of facial movements, noting any drooping. ... . Inspect the nose for patency and note any nasal drainage.. Inspect the oral cavity and ask the patient to open their mouth and say “Ah.” Inspect the patient's mouth using a good light and tongue blade.. What is the purpose of head and neck assessment?The head and neck. Peritonsillar Abscess examination is the portion of the physical examination done to observe for signs of head and neck. Peritonsillar Abscess disease or illness.
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