7.5 Learning Activities

Practice Activity

Data Collection/Assessment

1. Working with a partner or a “simulated patient,” use the following questions and actions listed to perform a sensory function assessment. Use critical thinking to ask as-needed follow-up questions.

Vision:

• Do you wear glasses or contact lenses?
• Do you have problems reading or doing close work? Do you have problems seeing far away objects?
• Do you have any floaters (spots) in your vision?
• When have you last had your eyes examined by an eye doctor?
• Is there a family history of glaucoma or other eye diseases?
• Have you ever had eye trauma or surgery?
• Read words from a book or newspaper.

Hearing:

• Do you currently have any ear pain, discharge, or hearing changes?
• Do you note yourself having trouble hearing in certain situations?
• Do you note any dizziness or ringing in your ears (tinnitus)?
• Do you work in an environment where you are exposed to loud noise on a regular basis? Do you wear protection on your ears from the noise?
• Have you taken any medications that came with a warning to report any changes in hearing?
• Have family members or friends mentioned that you seem not to hear?
• Perform the whisper test.

Smell:

• How is your sense of smell?
• Ask the patient to identify some scents like coffee or lemons with eyes closed.

Touch:

• Ask the patient to close their eyes and identify areas when you are touching them (i.e., the upper and lower extremities).
• Do you have unusual sensations or numbness and tingling?
• Ask the patient to close their eyes and identify an object by touch, such as a key.

Taste:

• Have you noted any changes in your ability to taste foods?
• Is your appetite “normal” for you? Have you noted a decrease?
• As the patient to taste and identify food such as sugar or salt.

Analysis and Care Planning

2. Create a nursing diagnosis based on your assessment findings.

3. Identify a patient-centered goal and SMART expected outcomes.

4. Outline nursing interventions to help the patient to meet the established goal and expected outcome.