What it means
The first step of the nursing process. To assess is to collect data about a client, both what they tell you (subjective data) and what you observe or measure (objective data), so that you can decide what is going on and what to do next. On the exam, "the nurse should first assess" means gather the facts before acting.
For the nurse
Assessment is a registered nurse's job and cannot be delegated to a UAPyou-ay-pee (said as letters)Unlicensed assistive personnel: trained workers without a nursing license, such as nursing assistants, who help with client care.Full entry . When an exam question asks for the first action and the client's status is not yet known, an assessment option is usually the answer; when the danger is already clear, act first.
At a glance
| Spanish | evaluar, valorar |
|---|---|
| Also written | assesses, assessed, assessing, assessment |
Related terms
UAP
Unlicensed assistive personnel: trained workers without a nursing license, such as nursing assistants, who help with client care.