Complete Head-to-Toe Physical Assessment

Cheat Sheet
Introduction
Nursing assessment is important in the whole nursing process. This can be called the base or
foundation of the nursing process. With a weak and incorrect nursing assessment, you might create
also an incorrect nursing diagnosis and plans therefore creating wrong interventions and
evaluation. To prevent those kind of scenarios, we have created a cheat sheet on which you can
print or copy to be used during your assessment.
Physical Assessment
Integument
Skin: The clients skin is uniform in color, unblemished and no presence of any foul odor. He has
a good skin turgor and skins temperature is within normal limit.
Hair: The hair of the client is thick, silky hair is evenly distributed and has a variable amount of
body hair. There are also no signs of infection and infestation observed.
Nails: The client has a light brown nails and has the shape of convex curve. It is smooth and is
intact with the epidermis. When nails pressed between the fingers (Blanch Test), the nails return
to usual color in less than 4 seconds.
Head
Head: The head of the client is rounded; normocephalic and symmetrical.
Skull: There are no nodules or masses and depressions when palpated.
Face: The face of the client appeared smooth and has uniform consistency and with no
presence of nodules or masses.
Eyes and Vision
Eyebrows: Hair is evenly distributed. The clients eyebrows are symmetrically aligned and
showed equal movement when asked to raise and lower eyebrows.
Eyelashes: Eyelashes appeared to be equally distributed and curled slightly outward.
Eyelids: There were no presence of discharges, no discoloration and lids close symmetrically
with involuntary blinks approximately 15-20 times per minute.
Eyes
The Bulbar conjunctiva appeared transparent with few capillaries evident.
The sclera appeared white.
The palpebral conjunctiva appeared shiny, smooth and pink.
There is no edema or tearing of the lacrimal gland.
Cornea is transparent, smooth and shiny and the details of the iris are visible. The client
blinks when the cornea was touched.
The pupils of the eyes are black and equal in size. The iris is flat and round. PERRLA
(pupils equally round respond to light accommodation), illuminated and non-illuminated
pupils constricts. Pupils constrict when looking at near object and dilate at far object. Pupils
converge when object is moved towards the nose.
When assessing the peripheral visual field, the client can see objects in the periphery when
looking straight ahead.
When testing for the Extraocular Muscle, both eyes of the client coordinately moved in
unison with parallel alignment.
The client was able to read the newsprint held at a distance of 14 inches.
Ears and Hearing
Ears: The Auricles are symmetrical and has the same color with his facial skin. The auricles are
aligned with the outer canthus of eye. When palpating for the texture, the auricles are mobile,
firm and not tender. The pinna recoils when folded. During the assessment of Watch tick test,
the client was able to hear ticking in both ears.
Nose and Sinus
Nose: The nose appeared symmetric, straight and uniform in color. There was no presence of
discharge or flaring. When lightly palpated, there were no tenderness and lesions
Mouth:
The lips of the client are uniformly pink; moist, symmetric and have a smooth texture. The
client was able to purse his lips when asked to whistle.
Teeth and Gums: There are no discoloration of the enamels, no retraction of gums, pinkish
in color of gums
The buccal mucosa of the client appeared as uniformly pink; moist, soft, glistening and with
elastic texture.
The tongue of the client is centrally positioned. It is pink in color, moist and slightly rough.
There is a presence of thin whitish coating.
The smooth palates are light pink and smooth while the hard palate has a more irregular
texture.
The uvula of the client is positioned in the midline of the soft palate.
Neck:
The neck muscles are equal in size. The client showed coordinated, smooth head
movement with no discomfort.
The lymph nodes of the client are not palpable.
The trachea is placed in the midline of the neck.
The thyroid gland is not visible on inspection and the glands ascend during swallowing but
are not visible.
Thorax and Lungs
Lungs / Chest: The chest wall is intact with no tenderness and masses. Theres a full and
symmetric expansion and the thumbs separate 2-3 cm during deep inspiration when assessing
for the respiratory excursion. The client manifested quiet, rhythmic and effortless respirations.
The spine is vertically aligned. The right and left shoulders and hips are of the same height.

Heart: There were no visible pulsations on the aortic and pulmonic areas. There is no presence
of heaves or lifts.Abdomen: The abdomen of the client has an unblemished skin and is uniform
in color. The abdomen has a symmetric contour. There were symmetric movements caused
associated with clients respiration.
The jugular veins are not visible.
When nails pressed between the fingers (Blanch Test), the nails return to usual color in less
than 4 seconds.
Extremities
The extremities are symmetrical in size and length.
Muscles: The muscles are not palpable with the absence of tremors. They are normally firm and
showed smooth, coordinated movements.
Bones: There were no presence of bone deformities, tenderness and swelling.
Joints: There were no swelling, tenderness and joints move smoothly.
Nursing Assessment in Tabular Form
ASSESSMENT FINDINGS
Integumentary

Skin
When skin is pinched it goes to previous state
immediately (2 seconds).With fair complexion.With
dry skin
Hair
Evenly distributed hair.With short, black and shiny
hair.With presence of pediculosis Capitis.
Nails
Smooth and has intact epidermisWith short and clean
fingernails and toenails. Convex and with good
capillary refill time of 2 seconds.
Skull
Rounded, normocephalic and symmetrical, smooth
and has uniform consistency.Absence of nodules or
masses.
Face
Symmetrical facial movement, palpebral fissures
equal in size, symmetric nasolabial folds.
Eyes and Vision

Eyebrows
Hair evenly distributed with skin intact.Eyebrows are
symmetrically aligned and have equal movement.
Eyelashes
Equally distributed and curled slightly outward.
Eyelids
Skin intact with no discharges and no
discoloration.Lids close symmetrically and blinks
involuntary.
Bulbar conjunctiva
Transparent with capillaries slightly visible
Palpebral Conjunctiva
Shiny, smooth, pink
Sclera
Appears white.
Lacrimal gland, Lacrimal sac, Nasolacrimal
duct
No edema or tenderness over the lacrimal gland and
no tearing.
Cornea

Clarity and texture
Transparent, smooth and shiny upon inspection by
the use of a penlight which is held in an oblique angle
of the eye and moving the light slowly across the
eye.Has brown eyes.
Corneal sensitivity
Blinks when the cornea is touched through a cotton
wisp from the back of the client.
Pupils
Black, equal in size with consensual and direct
reaction, pupils equally rounded and reactive to light
and accommodation, pupils constrict when looking at
near objects, dilates at far objects, converge when
object is moved toward the nose at four inches
distance and by using penlight.
Visual Fields
When looking straight ahead, the client can see
objects at the periphery which is done by having the
client sit directly facing the student nurse at a
distance of 2-3 feet. The right eye is covered with a
card and asked to look directly at the student nurses
nose. Hold penlight in the periphery and ask the client
when the moving object is spotted.
Visual Acuity
Able to identify letter/read in the newsprints at a
distance of fourteen inches. She was able to read the
newsprint at a distance of 8 inches.
Ear and Hearing

Auricles
Color of the auricles is same as facial skin,
symmetrical, auricle is aligned with the outer canthus
of the eye, mobile, firm, non-tender, and pinna recoils
after it is being folded.
External Ear Canal
Without impacted cerumen.
Hearing Acuity Test
Voice sound audible.
Watch Tick Test
Able to hear ticking on right ear at a distance of one
inch and was able to hear the ticking on the left ear at
the same distance
Nose and sinuses

External Nose
Symmetric and straight, no flaring, uniform in color,
air moves freely as the clients breathes through the
nares.
Nasal Cavity
Mucosa is pink, no lesions and nasal septum intact
and in middle with no tenderness.
Mouth and Oropharynx
Symmetrical, pale lips, brown gums and able to purse
lips.
Teeth
With dental caries and decayed lower molars
Tongue and floor of the mouth
Central position, pink but with whitish coating which is
normal, with veins prominent in the floor of the mouth.
Tongue movement
Moves when asked to move without difficulty and
without tenderness upon palpation.
Uvula Positioned midline of soft palate.
Gag Reflex Present which is elicited through the use of a tongue
depressor.
Neck
Positioned at the midline without tenderness and
flexes easily. No masses palpated.
Head movement
Coordinated, smooth movement with no discomfort,
head laterally flexes, head laterally rotates and
hyperextends.
Muscle strength With equal strength
Lymph Nodes Non-palpable, non tender
Thyroid Gland
Not visible on inspection, glands ascend but not
visible in female during swallowing and visible in
males.
Thorax and lungs

Posterior thorax Chest symmetrical
Spinal alignment
Spine vertically aligned, spinal column is straight, left
and right shoulders and hips are at the same height.
Breath Sounds With normal breath sounds without dyspnea.
Anterior Thorax
Quiet, rhythmic and effortless respiration
Abdomen
Unblemished skin, uniform in color, symmetric
contour, undistended.
Abdominal movements Symmetrical movements cause by respirations.
Auscultation of bowel sounds
With audible sounds of 23 bowel sounds/minute.
Upper Extremities Without scars and lesions on both extremities.
Lower Extremities With minimal scars on lower extremities
Muscles
Equal in size both sides of the body, smooth
coordinated movements, 100% of normal full
movement against gravity and full resistance.
Bones and Joints No deformities or swelling, joints move smoothly.
Mental Status

Language Can express oneself by speech or sign.
Orientation Oriented to a person, place, date or time.
Attention span
Able to concentrate as evidence by answering the
questions appropriately.
Level of Consciousness
A total of 15 points indicative of complete orientation
and alertness. E4V5M6
Motor Function

Gross Motor and Balance

Walking gait
Has upright posture and steady gait with opposing
arm swing unaided and maintaining balance.
Standing on one foot with eyes closed Maintained stance for at least five (5) seconds.
Heel toe walking Maintains a heel toe walking along a straight line
Toe or heel walking Able to walk several steps in toes/heels.
Fine motor test for Upper Extremities

Finger to nose test Repeatedly and rhythmically touches the nose.
Alternating supination and pronation of hands
on knees
Can alternately supinate and pronate hands at rapid
pace.
Finger to nose and to the nurses finger Perform with coordinating and rapidity.
Fingers to fingers Perform with accuracy and rapidity.
Fingers to thumb Rapidly touches each finger to thumb with each hand.
Fine motor test for the Lower Extremities

Pain sensation
Able to discriminate between sharp and dull
sensation when touched with needle and cotton.