title: Purpose of the systematic physical assessment in everyday practice: critique of a "sacred cow".
abstract: Although considered an essential nursing skill, systematic physical assessment is rarely visible in everyday practice. Some nurses question whether systematic physical assessment is relevant to nursing, and others complain that they do not see it used in practice. Why is this, when these skills are considered so integral to nursing? This article challenges nurse educators to reflect on the purpose of the systematic physical assessment within nursing by analyzing the underlying assumptions of this apparent "sacred cow."
authors.affiliation: Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. szambas@aut.ac.nz
authors.forename: Shelaine Iris
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Zambas
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009742:Nursing Theory; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000451:nursing*; D033302:Postmodernism