Genitourinary assessment: an integral part of a complete physical examination.
This article provides primary care providers, including pediatric nurse practitioners, with a framework for completing a genitourinary assessment. Many primary care providers are reluctant to examine the genitalia of their patients. Routine genital examinations increase diagnostic skills, provide a baseline for future examinations, may improve parent and child compliance with the examination, and may reveal previously undiscovered anomalies or trauma. An assessment of the reproductive and urologic systems should begin with obtaining a focused history from the parent from birth to present. Techniques for performing a focused genitourinary examination will be discussed.
Hornor
Gail
G
Children's Hospital, Center for Child and Family Advocacy, Columbus, OH 43205, USA. hornorg@chi.osu.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011627:Puberty; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014564:Urogenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000293:injuries