Final answer:
A nursing assessment includes subjective evaluation of self-reported symptoms like pain or nausea, and objective examinations such as muscular strength tests and auscultation. Quantification of symptoms may involve scales or physiological measurements. Further tests may be ordered based on these assessments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of assessment conducted during a nursing history and when a patient presents a symptom is a combination of subjective and objective evaluations. During the subjective assessment, which is part of the nursing history, nurses collect information about symptoms the patient is experiencing, such as nausea, loss of appetite, and pain.
These symptoms, unlike signs, cannot be clinically confirmed or objectively measured, making them subjective. To better quantify these symptoms, methods like the Wong-Baker Faces pain-rating scale or measuring skin conductance fluctuations may be used.
During the objective assessment, physical examinations are performed to identify signs of a disease or condition. For example, the patient could be asked to smile, raise eyebrows, or feel the touch of a pen to evaluate muscular strength and sensory system integrity.
A doctor might also utilize auscultation with a stethoscope to assess heart sounds as part of the diagnostic process. If any abnormalities are identified, further tests such as CT scans or blood tests may be ordered to diagnose the problem.