How do you assess the fundus?

Gently palpate the abdomen with the left hand to determine the height of the fundus of the uterus:

1. If the fundus is palpable just above the symphysis pubis, the gestational age is probably 12 weeks.
2. If the fundus reaches halfway between the symphysis and the umbilicus, the gestational age is probably 16 weeks.

What is the appropriate way to assess the fundus of the postpartum patient?

The uterus should feel firm and should feel about the size of a grapefruit for the first few days. The fundus (top portion of the uterus) should be felt at the level of your belly button or lower. You can attempt to feel your fundus by gently pressing on your abdomen. The uterus shrinks at about the rate of one cm.

What is the best position to assess a woman’s fundus?

To assess the height of the fundus (upper border of the uterus) the midwife should place her hand at the xiphisternum and move it downwards over the abdomen until the curved border of the fundus is found.

What does a head to toe assessment look for?

Skin, hair, and nails:

1. Inspect for lesions, bruising, and rashes.
2. Palpate skin for temperature, moisture, and texture.
3. Inspect for pressure areas.
4. Inspect skin for edema.
5. Inspect scalp for lesions and hair and scalp for presence of lice and/or nits.
6. Inspect nails for consistency, colour, and capillary refill.

How often should you assess the fundus?

Every 5 to 15 minutes, you monitor her blood pressure and pulse, evaluate her fundus, and check for bleeding. Finding her uterus still boggy, you apply fundal massage.

How often should fundus be checked?

It is usually done every ten minutes or so, depending on your rate of bleeding. If you are bleeding a little heavier you may have more vigorous and frequent fundal massages.

What assessments are important for DH following delivery?

BREASTS. The breasts are assessed for:

When does the fundus return to normal?

By approximately one hour post delivery, the fundus is firm and at the level of the umbilicus. The fundus continues to descend into the pelvis at the rate of approximately 1 cm or finger-breadth per day and should be nonpalpable by 14 days postpartum.

What is McDonald’s rule?

Fundal height, or McDonald’s rule, is a measure of the size of the uterus used to assess fetal growth and development during pregnancy. It is measured from the top of the mother’s uterus to the top of the mother’s pubic symphysis.

What is the order of head to toe assessment?

The Order of a Head-to-Toe Assessment

1. General Status. Vital signs.
2. Head, Ears, Eyes, Nose, Throat. Observe color of lips and moistness.
3. Neck. Palpate lymph nodes.
4. Respiratory. Listen to lung sounds front and back.
5. Cardiac. Palpate the carotid and temporal pulses bilaterally.
6. Abdomen. Inspect abdomen.
7. Pulses.
8. Extremities.

Why is a head to toe physical assessment important?

Establishing a good assessment would later-on provide a more accurate diagnosis, planning, and better interventions and evaluation, that’s why it’s important to have a good and strong assessment. Below is your ultimate guide in performing a head-to-toe physical assessment.

How to do a head to toe nursing exam?

Join NURSING.com to watch the full lesson now. Begin your assessment of the skin by looking at the general color or pigmentation of the patient. The patient’s color should be consistent with the genetic makeup of the patient, ranging from pink to dark brown. Darker-skinned people may have areas of lighter pigmentation.

Can a weak assessment lead to an incorrect diagnosis?

With a weak or incorrect assessment, nurses can create an incorrect nursing diagnosis and plans therefore creating wrong interventions and evaluation. To prevent those kind of scenarios, we have created a cheat sheet that you can print and use to guide you throughout the first step of the nursing process.

What are the normal findings of a physical exam?

Normal Findings: 1 Pinkish in color 2 No gum bleeding 3 No receding gums