MO
Supplies and Equipment
Hospital gown
Sheet or disposable paper drapes
Bath blanket (to prevent chill)
Tray with flashlight, gloves, lubricant normal saline, cotton-tipped
applicators, and tissues
Basin for soiled instruments
Waste container for paper goods
Scale with height measuring rod
Gooseneck lamp or hospital light
Gloves
Thermometer (oral or rectal)
Tape measure
Tongue depressors
Ophthalmoscope (for examining eyes)
Otoscope (for examining ears)
Tuning fork
Blood pressure apparatus and stethoscope
Percussion hammer (to check reflexes)
Red and blue pencils (to mark skin)
Small speculum (for nose examination)
Head mirror (to reflect light into body orifice, such as the throat
You may also need slides, blood tubes, a vaginal speculum, or
other equipment; medications; and a surgical permit if a biopsy or
other tests are to be done.
Table 1-1. Supplies and equipment.
d. Accompany the patient to the examination room and assist him onto the table.
Your presence lends support and reassurance to the patient. If a male is examining a
female patient, or vice versa, stay in the room to protect the patient, the health care
provider, and the hospital or clinic.
e. Wash your hands and measure the patient's vital signs (temperature, pulse,
respiration, blood pressure), height, and weight. Wear gloves if the patient has a draining
wound, is bleeding, is vomiting, or has an infection. (See Universal Body Substance
Precautions in this subcourse).
f. Have the patient's chart available. The physician needs to know the information
that has already been obtained via the nursing observations and lab reports. Call the
physician's attention to any abnormal lab values. Do this away from the patient.
MD0906
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