Final answer:
Patient history and physical examination require ensuring privacy, reviewing lab results, managing pain, and documenting allergies. Additionally, patient identity, procedure details, and surgical team preparation are crucial for safety and quality care.
Step-by-step explanation:
When taking a patient's history and performing a physical examination, several environmental and patient care activities are essential to ensure a thorough and accurate assessment while maintaining the patient's comfort and safety.
- Ensuring patient privacy and confidentiality: This is fundamental for building trust and encouraging the patient to share sensitive information freely. Private rooms or privacy curtains, as well as secure handling of health records, are crucial.
- Reviewing laboratory test results: Prior lab tests can provide valuable background information that influences the physical examination and guides specific questioning.
- Administering pain medications: If a patient is in pain, providing relief before the physical examination can improve their comfort and cooperation, potentially yielding more accurate clinical findings.
- Documenting patient allergies and sensitivities: Awareness of allergies is critical to avoid exposing the patient to allergens during examination or treatment, which can prevent adverse reactions.
Before any procedure, confirm the patient's identity, procedure details, and obtain informed consent. Ensure critical thinking is applied by the surgical team by discussing anticipated critical events and confirming that equipment is available and functional.