Heather Johnson and Adam Carroll practicing their cardiovascular exam

Students in our RN to BSN program are diligently continuing their studies over the summer here at SPC College of Nursing. Our Fall 2014 cohort class are currently in the Health Assessment class where they are learning to build on their physical assessment skills and ability to analyze and synthesize these findings to determine the health risks and health promotion needs of their patients. Each week, a new body system is reviewed.

This past week, the students focused on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and got the chance to practice their new skills on each other.  Egophony, bronchophony, and whispered pectoriloquy are words that initially invoke concern – not only with what they mean – but also how to pronounce them!

 They are special assessment skills that we, as nurses, can perform at the bedside to determine if the patient has a consolidation in their lungs, such as pneumonia.

Next week the students move on to the gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal systems……