What it means
A finding the nurse would expect to see, so it does not need urgent action. Whether a finding is expected depends on the client: bright red vaginal bleeding is expected on the first day after birth, and a slow pulse may be normal for a trained athlete. Exam questions often ask the nurse to sort expected findings from ones that need immediate follow-upih-MEE-dee-it FOL-oh-upAction the nurse must take right away, such as checking further, acting or reporting.Full entry .
For the nurse
Compare each finding with the client's own baseline, condition and treatment before deciding it is expected. Keep documenting expected findings too: a later change is easier to spot.
At a glance
| Also written | expected findings |
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Related terms
assess
To gather information about a client by looking, listening, asking, measuring and examining.
immediate follow-up
Action the nurse must take right away, such as checking further, acting or reporting.
evaluate
To judge whether care worked by comparing the client's results with the goals that were set.