Assessment

Assessment is the first phase of the nursing process. It involves collecting data, organizing data, validating data, and documenting data about the client’s response to health concerns or illness. The goal of assessment is to establish a baseline for planning care and evaluating outcomes.

There are different types of assessments, such as:

1. Initial assessment: performed within 24 hours of admission to collect comprehensive information to complete the database.

2. Ongoing assessment: performed every shift to compare with the initial assessment and identify changes.

3. Problem-focused assessment: performed when a specific problem is identified to gather more information about it.

4. Emergency assessment: performed during a crisis to identify life-threatening problems.

Assessment can be systematic (head-to-toe) or continuous (every time the nurse comes into contact with the client).