I think that performing a health assessment is very similar to a forensics investigation. The forensics investigator starts gathering evidence as soon as he enters the scene. The fractioned also gathers evidence as soon as she enters the examination room. Does the client answer questions appropriately, is her posture straight, is she tearful, guarding a certain area of her body. What about hygiene, is well groomed, or wearing stained, mismatched clothing. The forensics investigator uses many senses while investigating a crime scene. Smell, touch, sight, and the 6th sense about what seems to be not quite right. The fractioned doing the assessment uses the same senses. Smell can clue the fractioned into some diseases, for example some malignancies. The sense that something is not quite right is another skill that the fractioned develops. The client that says she is eating, yet losing weight leads the fractioned to follow-up with other questions. Is the client diabetic, bulimic, or an elderly patient unable to afford food?
The forensics investigator uses laboratory data to support his theories. Laboratory is a tool that the fractioned also uses. Is the chest pain cardiac with elevated cardiac enzymes and EKG changes? Is weight loss due to a malignancy, diabetes, poor nutrition?
Forensics investigation and health assessment share one more very important trait. Forensics investigators give the victim a voice. As health practitioners, our clients too, will often need us to give them a voice. This includes the very young, the very old, the cognitively impaired, and the victims of abuse.
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forensic nursing chronicles
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forensic nursing assessmentforensic nursing historyForensic Nursing ProcessHealth Assessment
Forensic Nursing Chronicles 