By

Rosemarie Reyes
Health Assessment Lecture
Ms. Criselda Ultado

Instruments
and Positions
Used in Health
Assessment

1. Cotton
Balls or
Wisps

Test for sense of

touch

Instruments and Positions

Used
in Health Assessment
2. CottonObtain
tipped
applicators

specimens

3. Culture
Media

Obtain cultures
of body fluids
and drainage

4. Dental
Mirror

Visualize mouth
and throat
structures

5. Doppler
Ultrasonic
Stethoscop
e

Obtain readings
of blood
pressure, pulse
and fetal heart
rate

6. Flashlight

Provide a direct
light source to
view parts of the
body

7. Gauze
squares

Obtain
specimens;
collect drainage

8. Gloves

Protect the nurse

and patient from
contamination

9. Goggles

Protect the
nurses eyes for
contamination by
body fluids

10. Lubricant

Provide
lubrication for
vaginal or rectal
examinations

11.Nasal
Speculum

Dilate the nares

for inspection of
the nose

Instruments and Positions

Used in Health Assessment
1. Supine or
Horizontal
Recumbent
position

2. Dorsal
Recumbent
position

3. Sims or Left
Lateral
position

Place patient flat on

back with legs
extended or slightly
flexed.
Purpose: general
examination.
Abdominal surgery and
surgery on head and
extremities
Place patient flat on
back with one pillow
under head. Have
knees flexed and
separated with feet flat
on bed.
Purpose: rectal, vaginal
and pelvic
examinations and
treatments; deliveries
Place patient on left
side somewhat
obliquely across the
bed with buttocks to
edge of mattress.
Incline body forward,
draw left arm back
under patient and place
right arm free in front.
The thighs should be
flexed upon the body--the right more than the
left.
Purpose:

Instruments and Positions

Used in Health Assessment
4. Knee-chest or
Genupectoral
Position

5. Dorsal
Lithotomy or
Dorso-sacral
Position

Place patient in prone

position, then assist her
to kneel so that her
weight rests on her
chest and knees. Turn
head to one side and
flex her arms at the
elbows extending, then
to the bed in front of
her. Be sure the thighs
are perpendicular to
the level of the head.
Purpose: to obtain
better exposure of the
vagina, cervix and
rectum; to examine the
bladder, vagina and
rectum;
Place patient on her
back across the bed
with the buttocks
slightly beyond the
edge of the mattress,
then flex knees over
the abdomen and
separate the knees.
Support the knees by
mans of long sheet
folded diagonally and
passed under the knees
and around the neck.
Purpose: vaginal and
rectal examination

Instruments and Positions

Used in Health Assessment
6. Standing or
Erect
Position

7. Prone
Position

8. Jack Knife
Kroaske or
Bozeman
Position

Have patient standing

with knees separated
about 10 inches with
one foot on a low stool.
Instruct her to place
one hand on the buck
of the chair for support
and the other hand on
the hip.
Purpose: examination
of vagina, spine and
back
Let patient lie on
abdomen. Turn hand to
one side. Allow pillow
under the head and
another under the
chest.
Purpose: for treatment
of the back; to secure
drainage of pus to front
of abdomen; to keep
pus away from spine
Place patient on a
prone position with the
hips directly over the
band of the
examination table. Tip
the table with the head
lower than the hips.
Lower the foot part of
the table so that the
patients feet are below
head level. Place pillow
under pelvis and
abdomen to relieve
strain
Purpose: operation of
rectum and coccyx

Instruments and Positions

Used in Health Assessment
9. Fowlers or
Semi-Fowlers
Position

10.

Trendel

enburg
Position

Elevate head part of

the bed by means of
head elevator 8-24
inches high. Elevate
knee to about 6 inches.
Purpose: to obtain good
drainage in pelvis; to
localize infection in the
pelvis and prevent its
spread to peritoneum
Place patient in
horizontal recumbent
position. Adjust table so
head is lower and the
body is on an incline
plane.
Purpose: gynecological
surgery and suprapubic
prostatectomy cases

Instruments and Positions

Used in Health Assessment