Skip to main content

Table 2 Development of basic physical assessment skills over the 3-year nursing programme

From: Revitalizing physical assessment in undergraduate nursing education - what skills are important to learn, and how are these skills applied during clinical rotation? A cohort study

Physical assessment skills

Mean (SD), Median

Cohen’s d effect size

1st year

2nd year

3rd year

1–2 year

1–3 year

Heart and peripheral circulation

 Inspect extremities for skin colour/hair growth

4.51 (1.17), 5

5.13 (3.69), 5

4.73 (1.05), 5

0.22

0.19

 Palpate distal pulses

3.62 (0.96), 4

4.28 (1.12), 4

4.22 (1.07), 4

0.63*

0.59*

 Count pulses a,b

4.23 (2.57), 4

5.14 (0.80), 5

4.99 (0.87), 5

0.48

0.39

 Palpate for oedema a,b

3.65 (1.16), 4

4.20 (1.06), 4

4.38 (0.99), 4

0.50*

0.67*

 Palpate and inspect capillary refill a,b

2.78 (1.21), 3

3.76 (1.21), 4

3.77 (1.11), 4

0.80*

0.85*

 Estimate skin fold a,b

2.86 (0.94), 3

3.30 (1.08), 3

3.56 (0.91), 4

0.43

0.75*

 Evaluate extremities for skin sensation a,b

2.30 (1.10), 2

3.10 (1.15), 3

2.92 (0.87), 3

0.71*

0.62*

 Assess fine motor skills

2.62 (1.27), 2

2.98 (1.23), 3

2.98 (0.96), 3

0.28

0.31

 Take blood pressure b,c

3.91 (1.04), 4

3.61 (1.09), 4

4.29 (1.09), 4

-0.28

0.35

 Auscultate heart sounds

2.52 (1.02), 2

2.32 (1.01), 2

2.57 (0.88), 2

-0.19

0.05

 Auscultate carotid artery

2.60 (0.91), 2

2.52 (1.16), 2

2.76 (0.97), 3

-0.07

0.17

Thorax

 Inspect thorax for shape, breathing effort a,b

3.55 (1.16), 4

4.45 (1.25), 5

4.31 (1.06), 4

0.74*

0.68*

 Count respiratory rate a,b,c

3.99 (0.91), 3

5.57 (0.65), 6

5.09 (0.87), 5

1.99*

1.23*

 Inspect thorax for skin colour/scar a,b

4.28 (1.22), 4

5.13 (0.83), 5

5.97 (0.77), 5

0.83*

1.63*

 Palpate thorax wall for thoracic expansion and vocal fremitus a,b

2.82 (1.03), 3

3.41 (1.34), 3

3.27 (1.07), 3

0.50*

0.42

 Percuss the lungs b

2.41 (0.79), 2

2.52 (1.02), 2

2.87 (0.93), 3

0.12

0.53*

 Auscultate lungs

2.70 (0.86), 3

2.76 (1.02), 3

3.13 (0.99), 3

0.06

0.46

 Assess SpO2a,b

3.83 (1.31), 4

5.63 (0.66), 6

5.03 (1.02), 5

1.73*

1.02*

Abdomen

 Inspect abdomen a,b

2.95 (1.21), 3

3.87 (1.06), 4

3.74 (1.07), 4

0.80*

0.69*

 Auscultate abdomen for bowel sounds b

2.61 (0.86), 2,5

2.90 (1.06), 3

3.02 (0.92), 3

0.30

0.46

 Light abdominal palpation a,b

2.62 (0.89), 3

3.13 (1.05), 3

3.36 (0.90), 3

0.52*

0.82*

 Deep abdominal palpation

2.21 (0.78), 2

2.65 (1.00), 2

2.70 (0.90), 3

0.49

0.58*

 Percuss the abdomen b

2.36 (0.79), 2

2.52 (0.99), 2

2.77 (0.81), 3

0.17

0.51*

 Percuss for kidney tenderness a,b

2.05 (0.84), 2

2.41 (0.97), 2

2.57 (0.81), 2

0.39

0.63*

Neurology

 Evaluate CN I-XII

1.82 (0.88), 2

1.88 (1.73), 1

2.20 (1.09), 2

0.04

0.38

 Evaluate muscle strength, atrophy, tone

2.63 (1.13), 2

2.73 (1.26), 3

2.79 (1.06), 3

0.08

0.14

 Evaluate sensation of touch a,b

2.28 (1.12), 2

2.89 (1.2), 3

2.96 (0.91), 3

0.52*

0.66*

 Assess coordination and balance

3.16 (1.13), 3

3.43 (1.46), 3

3.32 (1.23), 3

0.20

0.13

 Evaluate patella and plantar reflexes

2.25 (0.67), 2

2.36 (0.77), 2

2.47 (0.80), 2

0.15

0.29

  1. amean difference is significant at the 0.016 level between 1st - 2nd year
  2. bmean difference is significant at the 0.016 level between 1st - 3rd year
  3. cmean difference is significant at the 0.016 level between 2nd - 3rd year
  4. *Cohen’s d effect size above 0.5