Assessing The Neurological System PDF
Assessing The Neurological System PDF
Assessing The Neurological System PDF
COLLEGE OF NURSING
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CHECKLIST
PREPARATION 1 2 3 4 5
1. Assemble equipment:
• Sugar, salt, lemon juice, quinine flavors
• Percussion hammer
• Tongue depressors (one broken diagonally, for
testing pain sensation)
• Wisps of cotton, to assess light touch sensation
• Test tubes of hot and cold water, for skin
temperature assessment (optional)
• Pins or needles for tactile discrimination
PROCEDURE
1. Introduce yourself and verify the client’s identity.
Explain to the client what you are going to do, why it
is necessary, and how the client can cooperate.
2. Perform hand hygiene and observe other appropriate
infection control procedures.
3. Provide for client privacy.
4. Inquire if the client has any history of the following:
• Presence of pain in the head, back, or
extremities, as well as onset and aggravating and
alleviating factors
• Disorientation to time, place, or person
• Speech disorders
• Any history of loss of consciousness, fainting,
convulsions, trauma, tingling or numbness,
tremors or tics, limping, paralysis, uncontrolled
muscle movements, loss of memory, or mood
swings
• Problems with smell, vision, taste, touch, or
hearing
Language
5. If the client displays difficulty speaking:
Point to common objects, and ask the client to name
them.
Ask the client to read some words and to match the
printed and written words with pictures.
Ask the client to respond to simple verbal and written
commands—e.g., “Point to your toes” or “Raise your
left arm.”
Orientation
6. Determine the client’s orientation to time, place, and
person by tactful questioning.
Ask the client the city and state of residence, time of
day, date, day of the week, duration of illness, and
names of family members.
More direct questioning might be necessary for some
people—e.g., “Where are you now?” “What day is it
today?”
Memory
7. Listen for lapses in memory.
Ask the client about difficulty with memory. If
problems are apparent, three categories of memory
are tested: immediate recall, recent memory, and
remote memory.
To assess immediate recall:
TOTAL
________________________
Clinical Instructor
(Sign over printed name)