Nursing Assessment of the Older Adult

At the completion of this educational activity, the learner will be able to:

1. Identify two (2) abnormal findings associated with an assessment of each of the major body systems.
2. Identify five (4) specific symptom presentations in which targeted physical assessment is
   appropriate.
3. State two (2) communication considerations related to physical assessment findings.

At the completion of this educational activity, the learner will demonstrate knowledge of assessment of the older adult by passing a quiz with a score of 85% or greater accuracy.

Lois Platt, MSN, RN

Ms. Platt has recently retired from a Staff Development
Coordinator position in a long-term care facility in Arizona.  She worked as a Term Assistant Professor of Nursing for the University of Alaska Anchorage, AAS Nursing Program as well as coordinating and teaching the Certified Nursing Assistant Program in Valdez, Alaska.  Prior to entering nursing education, Ms. Platt worked in both staff nurse and Clinical Resource Manager positions in a small Critical Access Hospital in rural Alaska and in staff and
charge nurse positions in an intensive care unit in Connecticut.  Ms. Platt obtained a Diploma in nursing from Joseph Lawrence School of Nursing in New London, Connecticut; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, Connecticut; and a Master of Science in Nursing Education from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska.